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Toowoomba boy, 14, charged with burglary, stealing car and crashing into another vehicle refused bail

A magistrate has blasted a teenager accused of burglary and crashing a stolen car, telling a court ‘members of the public are fed up with young people breaking into their houses, taking their cars, crashing them’.

Stalking Our Streets

A 14-year-old boy accused of breaking into a Toowoomba home and stealing keys to a car which he then allegedly drove and crashed has been remanded in custody.

The boy, who as a juvenile cannot be identified, appeared before Toowoomba Children’s Court on Thursday, December 28, having spent the night in custody.

Police claim the teenager with others broke into the home about 4am, Wednesday, December 27, and stole keys to the car parked outside.

It is further alleged the boy was seen driving the car which was later seen fishtailing on Wirra Wirra St, East Toowoomba, the court heard.

The 14-year-old accused appeared in Toowoomba Children’s Court on December 28, 2023.
The 14-year-old accused appeared in Toowoomba Children’s Court on December 28, 2023.

The car was then involved in a two-car crash at the intersection of South and Webb streets, Rangeville, about 9am, police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court.

Fortunately, the driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured, Sergeant Wheaton said.

The boy appeared in custody before the court on Thursday on a string of charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, burglary, stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was not required to enter any pleas to the charges.

Magistrate Kay Ryan
Magistrate Kay Ryan

Objecting to bail, Sergeant Wheaton said the boy had only recently been placed on a conditional release order by the court and had been residing in a safe house which had supervision 24/7.

Magistrate Kay Ryan told the lad that not only did she have to consider the safety of the public if she granted him bail but also the safety of the accused juvenile himself.

“Are there bail conditions that I could put in place that would stop you doing this?” she asked.

“I know members of the public are fed up with young people breaking into their houses, taking their keys, taking their cars, crashing them, writing them off.

“I think you would know there’s a risk that one of those people is going to get very, very angry and chase you and I know that in this case, your case, members of the public were very quick to get onto the police and keep you under surveillance to make sure you were caught.”

Ms Ryan refused bail and remanded the youth in custody to appear for mention in Toowoomba Children’s Court on January 11 when another bail application could be made.

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-toowoomba/toowoomba-boy-14-charged-with-burglary-stealing-car-and-crashing-into-another-vehicle-refused-bail/news-story/440887d9732abe50d888ee4dfbe7d86a