A teenage boy has been charged as part of an ongoing operation on the state's Central Coast.
Operation Soteria was established to target youth crime in the western and northern regional areas of the state.
Between February and April 2025, Brisbane Water Proactive Crime Investigation Team under Operation Soteria commenced investigations into a number of aggravated break and enter offences whereby motor vehicles were stolen.
These offences occurred in Woy Woy, Pearl Beach, Macmasters Beach, Bensville, Copacabana, Terrigal and Kincumber areas.
A number of the stolen vehicles were recovered by police in the Umina Beach area.
Following inquiries, police arrested a 15yo boy at Umina Beach. He was charged with a number of serious property offences, and his mobile phone was seized.
A subsequent review was completed on that mobile phone and investigators identified his involvement in a further 21 additional aggravated break, enter and steal and stolen motor vehicle offences.
About 8am on Wednesday 14 May 2025 police attended a property in Umina Beach and re-arrested the 15-year-old boy.
He was taken to Gosford Police Station and charged with:
- aggravated break, enter and steal (four counts),
- steal motor vehicle (five counts),
- be carried in conveyance (five counts),
- drive conveyance (two counts),
- commit 154A offence & disseminate,
- licence never held (two counts) and
- negligent driving.
Additionally, two prior charges were upgraded to include:
- aggravated break, enter and steal,
- carried in conveyance and
- drive conveyance (two counts).
He was refused bail and appeared before a Children's Court on the 14/05/2025.
Inquiries under Operation Soteria continue.
