Bail refused for alleged 15-year-old ‘ring leader’ of Bendigo youth home invasion gang

The alleged “ring leader” of a youth crime gang has been accused of breaking into homes across Bendigo while the owners were asleep.

Police allege the 15-year-old teenager was a “ring leader” of youth criminals breaking into Bendigo homes.

The alleged “ring leader” of a youth crime gang that committed armed home invasions across Bendigo while families slept allegedly bragged about the brazen burglaries on social media, a court has heard.

The 15-year-old faced a Children’s Court on Wednesday charged over a string of home invasions and car thefts across Bendigo between August and September.

Police executed eight warrants yesterday, arresting the teenager as he allegedly made a daring dash for the front door after he was discovered hiding in his mother’s closet, “thrashing” wildly as he tried to escape police, the court heard.

Police allege the teenager and several others broke into Bendigo homes and stole cars.

His parent’s, who were allegedly hiding him when police came knocking, had to be detained as they were “aggressive” and “abusive” towards police, the court heard.

Police alleged in court that teen broke into multiple Bendigo homes while families slept, stealing car keys and wallets before making off with vehicles while in the company of other co-offenders.

Disturbing CCTV evidence was provided showing the group of youths allegedly creeping around properties, trying to open doors to cars and homes.

Police alleged the gang of youths were armed during some of the home invasions after a hammer recovered from a stolen car.

Police allege the 15-year-old teenager was a “ring leader” of youth criminals breaking into Bendigo homes. Picture: Nicholas Falconer.

Alleged victims of the alleged burglaries said they were left terrified and anxious by the events.

One alleged victim said it was “alarming” that the teenagers allegedly crept through his house with a hammer while his kids were sleeping.

Police alleged the teenager posted his crimes on Snapchat, bragging to his friends about the crimes he was committing.

Police strenuously opposed the 15-year-old’s bail bid, telling the court he was an “extreme” risk to the community, alleging the teen’s offending was “escalating” as his “confidence” increased.

The teen was on at least six counts of bail when he was arrested after eight warrants were issued, the court heard.

Police alleged he was a “ring leader” of the youth gang instructing other kids how to commit the crimes.

The teen’s lawyer argued he should be released on bail because he would be unlikely to serve a custodial sentence if he was convicted and he should not be remanded in custody as “preventative detention”.

A magistrate found the teen was an “unacceptable risk” of “committing harm to others” after he had “spectacularly failed” on “various counts of bail for months” and would continue to “go out at all hours of the night and break into people’s homes” to steal cars.

His bail was refused and he will face Children’s Court at a later date.