Three teenage boys will face court over 39 break and enter related offences on the state's Central Coast.
In April 2026, officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District commenced an investigation following multiple reports of break and enters across the Central Coast area.
Police were told at least six homes and a business in Umina Beach, Peral Beach, Erina, Wamberal, Patonga, and Killcare Heights were broken into between in April and May 2026 and four cars along with a handbag and a wallet were stolen.
Inquiries have led police to allege the incidents are linked.
Multiple crime scenes were established and detectives commenced inquiries into the incidents.
Following inquiries, about 10am on Friday 15 May 2026, police arrested three teenage boys – one aged 16 and two aged 15 - at a home in Woy Woy.
They were taken to Gosford Police Station where one of the 15-year-old boys was charged with 14 offences:
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (five counts)
- Dishonestly obtain property by deception
- Break and enter house etc steal value less than or equal to $60,000 (two counts)
- Enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier
- Larceny value less than or equal to $2000
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal less than or equal to $60000
- Armed with intent to commit indictable offence, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
A second 15-year-old boy was charged with 15 offences:
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
- Break and enter intend to commit serious indictable offence
- Enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier
- Larceny
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Never licensed person drive vehicle on road
- Drive conveyance taken without consent of owner
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal less than or equal to $60000 (two counts)
- Armed with intent to commit indictable offence
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (two counts)
- Shoplifting, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
They were both refused bail to appear at Children's Court today (Saturday 16 May 2026).
The 16-year-old boy was charged with 10 offences:
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (three counts)
- Dishonestly obtain property by deception
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal less than or equal to $60000 (three counts)
- Armed with intent to commit indictable offence
- Shoplifting, and
- Participated criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Children's Court on Friday 12 June 2026.
Inquiries under Operation Soteria continue.
