15-year-old sentenced after months long break and enter, car theft, spree

A 15-year-old boy who went on a months-long crime spree causing “up to $100,000” damage has been released on probation after leaving a trail of destruction which included a ram raid, a stolen dirt bike, stolen cars and the ransacking of homes.

The Cairns Court House building on Sheridan Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

A 15-year-old boy who went on a months-long crime spree causing “up to $100,000” damage has been released on probation after leaving a trail of destruction which included a ram raid, a stolen dirt bike, stolen cars and the ransacking of homes.

The boy pleaded guilty to a total of 16 charges in the Cairns Childrens Court on Wednesday which included break and enters, burglary, unlawful use of motor vehicles, and breaches of bail among others.

The police prosecutor told the court the charges related to a period from September 2023 to this month, with the boy’s fingerprints left all over the scenes and footage captured on co-offenders’ mobile phones.

The first offence in September involved the boy entering a home with other offenders via a back sliding door, causing significant damage by spraying paint cans all over the walls.

Less than a week later the boy was caught on security camera breaking into a building and stealing alcohol.

Again, just days after, he broke into the Cairns Golf Club smashing glass panels to gain access to the club causing $2000 worth of damage and stealing or destroying up to $500 worth of alcohol.

The 15-year-old was given probation after a months-long crime spree. Picture: iStock

An Alternate Care home was broken into in May where the offenders “trashed the house”.

“Staff advised the TV was smashed, food from the fridge was smeared all over the walls, the toilet was blocked,” the prosecutor said.

“Essentially the house was destroyed.”

In July the boy was involved in a ram raid on a TSG store in a Honda Accord stolen earlier that night.

“The vehicle reversed at speed through the roller door and once entry was gained a number of lighters and soft drinks were stolen,” the prosecutor said.

On August 18 the boy was involved in a break-in at the Mulgrave Combined Cricket Association, breaking a door, stealing food and drinks, damaging the building and equipment, causing a total loss of $14,000 in damage and stolen gear.

On another night the boy was observed pushing a brand new Yamaha trail bike down the road after a break-in to the TeamMoto Yamaha store.

The boy was also involved in break and enters to more homes, stealing another car, the Trinity Bay school and a TAFE campus in Manunda.

Magistrate Sandra Pearson said that the total of the damage caused by the boy “must be reaching up to $100,000” and remarked on his previously “non-existent” juvenile offending history before the spate of break-ins.

She sentenced the boy to nine months probation.

Originally published as 15-year-old sentenced after months long break and enter, car theft, spree