Two teens have been charged under Operation Soteria will alleged property and traffic offences following an incident at Wollongbar in the Northern Rivers.
Between 12.20am and 5.20am on Monday 1 September 2025, a home on Hellyar Drive, Wollongbar, was allegedly broken into; keys and a vehicle stolen.
Police recovered the vehicle – which had sustained minor front-end damage – on Plateau Drive, Wollongbar, later that morning. It's been seized and will be analysed.
Following inquiries, Operation Soteria Police executed a search warrant at a Wollongbar home on Tuesday (2 September 2025).
At the home, police served Digital Evidence Access Orders on two boys – aged 15 and 16 – and seized a footage allegedly relevant to the investigation.
During the search, the older boy allegedly interfered with the warrant, and cannabis was seized when he was searched.
The boys were arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station, where the older boy was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess prohibited drug, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
He was refused bail to appear before a children's court yesterday (Wednesday 3 September 2025), where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before the same court tomorrow (Friday 5 September 2025).
The younger boy has been charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner.
He was refused bail to appear before a children's court yesterday (Wednesday 3 September 2025), where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before the same court on Friday 26 September 2025.
