Five teenagers have been charged after a string of armed robbery and driving offences on the state's Far North Coast.
Officers from the Tweed/Byron Police District launched Operation Marauder in late January 2020, after a spike in vehicle and property theft, and subsequent fraud offences.
Police will allege on Monday 24 February 2020, five teenagers attended a shop on Jonson Street, Byron Bay, and stole goods before one of the teenage girls punched a store employee.
The teenagers fled and attended a supermarket about 200m down the road shortly before midday, where they stole goods before threatening a store employee with a knife.
Then about 3.45pm on Wednesday 26 February, the group attended a shopping centre on Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South, and allegedly stole goods from a store before threatening a store employee with a knife.
Shortly before 11am on Friday 28 February, officers attached to Tweed/Byron PD noticed a black Audi – believed to be stolen – travelling south on the M1 near Kingscliff.
Police initiated a pursuit before the vehicle crashed a short time later.
The driver – a 14-year-old boy – and passenger – a 12-year-old boy – were arrested at the scene and taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for observation before being transported to Tweed Heads Police Station.
Following further inquiries, Tweed/Byron officers conducted extensive searches of the Kingscliff area and located three teenagers – a 16-year-old boy, and two girls aged 14 and 15 – in a makeshift campsite on Saturday 29 February about 2.20pm.
Police searched the area and seized weapons, property and clothing believed to be stolen.
All five teenagers were charged with a total of 21 offences.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and larceny. He was refused bail to face a children's court tomorrow (Tuesday 3 March 2020).
A 12-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, larceny and shop lifting. He was refused bail to face a children's court today (Monday 2 March 2020).
A 14-year-old girl has been charged with robbery in company, two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, larceny and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. She was refused bail to face a children's court tomorrow (Tuesday 3 March 2020).
A 15-year-old girl has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, receive property stolen outside NSW and possess prohibited drug. She was granted conditional bail to face a children's court later this month.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was granted conditional bail to face a children's court later this month.
To date, Operation Marauder has resulted in 27 arrests and more than 100 charges laid.
