Five boys have been arrested and charged over an alleged break and enter in Bourke this morning.
Officers attached to Central North Police District have been investigating the alleged break and enter of a high school on Tarcoon Street about 12:10am (Thursday 24 December 2020), where the school's mini-bus and a small hatchback were taken and driven to Brewarrina, about 100km away.
The vehicles returned to Bourke about 4am, where the car was found alight; the mini-bus was also found with some damage about 6:40am. The hatch was destroyed.
Following inquiries, police arrested five boys, aged between 10 and 15, and took them to Bourke Police Station where they have now been charged with a total of 14 offences;
- A 10-year-old boy has been charged with four offences, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, and two counts of destroy property in company - use fire
- A 13-year-old boy has been charged with three offences, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and two counts of destroy property in company - use fire
- A 14-year-old boy charged with aggravated break, enter and steal, and two counts of destroy property in company - use fire, and breach bail
- A second boy, also aged 14, has been charged with four offences, aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and two counts of destroy property in company - use fire, and,
- A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two offences, aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, and destroy property in company - use fire.
All were refused bail to appear in a children's court tomorrow (Friday 25 December 2020).
