Six teenagers, including two 13-year-old boys, have been arrested after an alleged crime spree across Mildura this week.
Police say the teens first tried breaking into a home on Ellswood Crescent through the windows just before 3am on Thursday, but were interrupted by an occupant and fled.
In the early hours of the following morning, they tried to break into a home on Beasy Court, this time through the front door and a window, but again fled when they woke the occupants.
Police allege that, shortly after, the teens successfully broke into a unit on Walnut Avenue, where they stole three sets of car keys, a wallet and $1000 cash, before taking off in the $130,000 Dodge RAM at the property.
Detectives who tracked the teens down allege they were involved in other break-ins overnight.
A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, both from Mildura, were bailed to face court at a later date, while another 13-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old boy, also from the area, will face the children’s court this evening.
A 19-year-old man was also charged over the spree and will appear before the Mildura Magistrates’ Court on May 12.
A 15-year-old girl was cautioned for the car theft but released without charge.
The Allan government has toughened sentences and bail laws for youth offenders in the face of rising crime rates and gang violence, and experts have been calling for more youth and family support services across the state.
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