Teenagers charged over armed robberies, driving offences in Byron Bay, Tweed Heads South

Five teenagers, including a 12-year-old boy, have been charged with a string of armed robbery and driving offences. Several were reportedly found in a makeshift campsite.

A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD boy is among five teenagers charged over a string of armed robbery and driving offences near the Gold Coast.

The group was arrested as part of Operation Marauder, launched by Tweed/Byron Police District in late January after a spike in vehicle and property theft and fraud offences.

Police now allege on Monday, February 24 five teenagers entered a Byron Bay shop and stole goods before one of the teenage girls punched an employee.

The group then fled the Jonson St address to a supermarket 200m down the road, where they allegedly threatened an employee with a knife.

On Wednesday, February 26 police will allege the group entered a Minjungbal Dr shopping centre in Tweed Heads South at about 3.45pm and again allegedly stole from a store.

An allegedly stolen vehicle lays upside down on the Pacific HIghway at Chinderah. Photo: Scott Powick.

Police say they then again threatened a store employee with a knife.

Two days later on February 28 police officers noticed a black Audi they believed to be stolen travelling south on the M1 near Kingscliff around 11am.

They gave chase before the vehicle crashed a short time later.

The driver and passenger, two boys aged 14 and 12, were arrested at the scene and taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for observation before being taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.

Police then conducted “extensive searches” of the Kingscliff area and discovered three more teenagers – a 16-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 15 – in a makeshift campsite on February 29 around 2.20pm.

Officers searched the area and seized weapons, property and clothing they believe to be stolen.

The five have been charged with a total of 21 offences.

The 14-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, police pursuit without stopping, driving at speed, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and larceny.

He was refused bail and will face a children’s court tomorrow.

The 12-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, larceny and shop lifting.

He was refused bail and will face a children’s court today.

The scene of a car crash on the M1 near Chinderah on Friday, February 28.

The 14-year-old girl has been charged with robbery in company, two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, larceny and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

She was refused bail to face a children’s court tomorrow.

The 15-year-old girl has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, receive property stolen outside NSW and possession of a prohibited drug.

She was granted conditional bail and will face a children’s court later this month.

The 16-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

He was granted conditional bail to face a children’s court later this month.