Teen accused of robbing Northside Plaza store, damaging care home

A young teenager who ‘went to ground’ for two weeks after spending two nights in the watchhouse went on to rob a discount store of about $900 cash.

Northside Plaza. Picture: Aden Stokes

A young teenager who ‘went to ground’ for two weeks after spending two nights in the watchhouse went on to rob a discount store of about $900 cash.

The teen, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, made an application for bail in Rockhampton Children’s Court on January 3 after police located him and laid fresh charges of enter premises and commit, stealing, wilful damage and breach of bail.

Police prosecutor Courtney Brown said the teenager had been remanded in the watchhouse between December 14 to 16 on a wilful damage charge before he was released.

She said he was accused of causing “a lot of damage to a care home”, including starting a fire.

Ms Brown said the juvenile went back to the care home the night of his release but police located him hiding in a cupboard at a different address the next day before he fled on foot.

The teenager then absconded from the Department of Child Safety care and Youth Justice until police located him on January 2, the court heard.

Ms Brown said Child Safety made alternative accommodation arrangements for the juvenile to stay at two different Rockhampton hotels but he did not attend either hotel.

Instead, she said police allege he and another juvenile entered the premises of a family bargain store at Northside Plaza on December 27 and stole $900 from the cash register.

“The shopkeeper, rightfully so, grabbed onto the child, with the co-offender then throwing items at the shopkeeper,” Ms Brown said.

A Department of Youth Justice spokesperson said the teen had been placed on a conditional bail program on December 16 and had not been compliant.

The spokesperson said they spoke with him in the Rockhampton Watchhouse on January 3 and he told them him would be compliant now if released from custody.

Acting magistrate Stephen Byrne said there were witnesses to almost all of the child’s alleged offending.

He said there were no allegations the shopkeeper was injured or hit with the objects thrown at them.

Mr Byrne said Child Safety was unable to engage with the juvenile because he “went to ground” and no one could find him.

He granted the child bail with conditions, including a 24-hour curfew given the offences he allegedly committed were during the day, and he must be in the company of someone approved by Child Safety or Youth Justice in the community.

His charges were adjourned to January 7.

Originally published as Teen accused of robbing Northside Plaza store, damaging care home