Youth crime Toowoomba: Police allege teen committed crime hours after release

A teen who was released on bail has allegedly committed another offence just hours after he was released from custody. He was initially charged in connection to a robbery.

A recidivist teenage thief with a history of breaking into homes and stealing cars has been released into the community just one day after he was arrested in connection to a violent attempted robbery of an 89-year-old man.

The Chronicle can also reveal the 17-year-old boy was allegedly involved in a domestic disturbance within several hours of a magistrate granted his bail.

Police allege two boys, both aged 17, entered a Middle Ridge home about 6.45am on Tuesday and demanded car keys from a senior citizen.

When the man refused the boy pushed him to the ground and fled.

The boys were arrested about 8am near the corner of Bridge and Mary Streets after two citizens spotted them travelling separately in two stolen cars, a Skoda and a Camry.

Residents of the suburb warned their neighbours, who were travelling along Bridge Street when they got the message.

A teen is arrested on Bridge Street in dramatic scenes on Tuesday morning.

One of the men parked his ute in the middle of the road, blocking the Skoda and forcing the Camry to mount the curb and hit a post.

A second man pulled in behind the Skoda to stop it from reversing out of the traffic jam while the other man held the driver’s side door closed while they waited for police to arrive.

Both vehicles had been stolen from Rangeville on the previous night.

The boys were held in custody overnight to appear in the Toowoomba Childrens Court on Wednesday.

The men blocked the stolen Skoda with their vehicles and then held the doors closed while they waited for the police.

One is charged with attempted robbery, receiving tainted property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, obstructing police, four counts of break and enter, two counts of trespass and traffic offences.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until his next court date on June 23.

The second boy is charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of entering a dwelling with intent, possessing tainted property and possessing a knife in public.

He was granted bail despite strenuous objections from police as a result of his history of failing to appear when summoned to court.

The incidents come at a time when police are grappling with a spike in property crime in Toowoomba, marked by young offenders sneaking into homes and stealing car keys.

Acting Superintendent David Briese said additional police patrols had been deployed in East Toowoomba, Middle Ridge, Rangeville, Mt Lofty and Newtown areas.

“We have had some really good results, but unfortunately there are still a number of offenders out there who we are still looking for,” he said.

While the two citizens were able to help detain the alleged offenders, Supt Briese cautioned residents about getting involved when they saw an offence in progress.

Instead he asked that they phoned Triple-0.

A teen is arrested on Bridge Street in dramatic scenes on Tuesday morning.

“We understand their frustration, but we are the police and it is up to us to find and apprehend these offenders and deal with them appropriately.

“The fear that I have is that community members becoming involved in that sort of action can lead to injury of themselves, other community members or the people they are trying to catch.”

“We are trained to manage those situations.”