Pakenham Secondary College, tennis club, car wash allegedly targeted by brazen teen burglars
A 17-year-old boy in custody has experienced a birthday he’d rather forget after he was allegedly involved in a number of burglaries across Pakenham. But the teen’s lawyer said her client suffered setbacks which could have triggered the offending.
South East
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Pakenham Secondary College and Pakenham Tennis Club were allegedly targeted by a brazen group of teen burglars in a spree across the suburb, a court has heard.
And the group of four — including a 17-year-old boy and his girlfriend — also landed themselves in trouble for breaching COVID-19 restrictions following the alleged hits at the venues as well as the Magic Hand Car Wash and Pakenham Taxis between May 17 and July 23.
A Children’s Court heard the group allegedly broke into Pakenham Secondary College grounds before making an attempt to force open a shed roller door about 1am on July 23.
And after CCTV footage showed the youngsters leaving the property empty-handed, they allegedly moved onto the car wash at Pakenham Central Marketplace, where they allegedly ripped out the cash register and stole $1400 in float and tip money as well as a Sonos speaker, hammerdrill and iPod.
Magistrate Tony Burns heard loose change, pre mixed and soft drink cans were also allegedly taken from the tennis club between May 12 and 15, two days before Pakenham Taxis was allegedly hit.
The prosecution said police officers found the 17-year-old boy attempting to jump out of his bedroom window as a search warrant was issued at his home one day after the alleged incidents at the school and car wash.
“I give up, you got me,” the boy told police.
The 17-year-old’s lawyer told the court her client had a traumatic upbringing as an Indigenous youth and suffered from an intellectual disability due to his IQ of 60.
She said the boy had lost work as an apprentice due to the coronavirus outbreak however more shift opportunities had been made available this week.
“He’s a young, Indigenous person with an extremely low IQ … it’s not alleged he’s a violent offender of threat to the community,” the woman said.
Magistrate Tony Burns said the boy, who spent his 17th birthday in custody on Monday, was offending with people “he shouldn’t be around”.
The teen faces charges including burglary, attempted burglary and theft.
“He’s stretched the tether to the absolute (maximum) … if he offends like this again he won’t get bail,” Mr Burns said.
The 17-year-old was granted bail and must stay at home between 8pm and 6am unless accompanied by his sister or boss.
He will reappear on August 21.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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