Two teenagers have been charged over a string of alleged aggravated break and enters and vehicle thefts in the state's north on the weekend.
About 5.30am Saturday 15 August 2026, officers attached to New England Police District were called to a home on Boston Street, Moree, following reports of a break and enter.
Police arrived and were told sometime between 8pm on Friday 14 August 2026 and the early hours of Saturday morning (15 August 2026), a group of unknown people allegedly forced entry into the home and stole the keys to a sedan, before fleeing in the vehicle.
Police will allege the driver stopped the vehicle at a service station on Blueberry Road, where they refuelled and left without paying.
About 5.20am the same day, the sedan allegedly travelled to Market Street, Warialda, where three males, two of which were allegedly armed with machetes, forced entry into the home, threatened an occupant, and stole the keys to a station wagon.
The group drove off in the vehicle.
Following inquiries, police located the sedan and station wagon travelling on the Gwydir Highway, near Pallamallawa.
A pursuit was initiated; however, it was terminated for safety reasons.
Police will allege that both drivers drove at police vehicles, who took evasive actions to avoid collisions.
About 6.20am the same day, the sedan was recovered at an address on Chester Street, Moree, and the station wagon was recovered in bushland near Merindah Avenue, Moree.
Following extensive inquiries, about 2.50pm on Saturday 15 August 2026, police arrested a 15-year-old boy – who was wanted on an outstanding warrant - at a Moree address.
He was taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with,
- Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (two counts)
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (motor vehicle)
- Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
- Driver never licensed
- Dishonestly obtain property by deception, and
- Breach of bail.
He was refused bail and appeared before a children's court on Sunday 16 August 2026, where he was formally refused bail to reappear before a children's court on Thursday 20 August 2026.
Following further inquiries, about 10.45am yesterday (Monday 17 August 2026), a 14-year-old boy was arrested at Moree Police Station.
He was charged with,
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (two counts)
- Commit s 154A offence and disseminate (post and boast)
- Breach of bail.
He was refused bail and appeared before a children's court yesterday (Monday 17 August 2026), where he was formally refused bail to reappear before a children's court on Monday 24 August 2026.
Inquiries continue.
