A 13-YEAR-OLD boy who allegedly committed a series of offences the day after he was granted bail at a children’s court has been released back into the community.
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The boy was bailed seven times from a police station before a magistrate granted him bail from a children’s court on Monday.
On Tuesday, the teenager, under bail conditions, and a co-accused allegedly attended a Wendouree property where they stole a $10,000 car and drove it around various Ballarat locations.
The car was later found burt-out at a Wendouree reserve.
Between Wednesday and Thursday the teenager and a co-accused allegedly attended a further four properties to steal items from cars and a motor home located in a backyard.
Items stolen included a laptop computer, silver necklace and watch worth $300.
A police informant said the teenager was arrested on Thursday at 2.20pm at his mother’s house while he was asleep.
The teenager appeared in a children’s court via video link on Friday where he made another successful bail application.
Police opposed bail on the grounds the teenager was an unacceptable risk of re-offending, however magistrate Cynthia Toose said she would give him another chance despite expressing concern.
She said she was unimpressed the teenager was bailed from a children’s court on Monday and he re-offended while on bail.
“Some of these young people think they can have bail like charm bracelets. It must stop and it will stop today,” Ms Toose said.
“How many cars have to be burnt out? How many houses have to be burgled?”
The teenager’s defence lawyer Eric Myles persuaded Ms Toose to grant his client bail.
“He is 13-years-of-age. He has had a taste of last night in Parkville. That will wake him up a little,” Mr Myles said.
Ms Toose told the teenager it was the last time she would be dealing with a bail application for him.
“I am giving you your last opportunity,” she said.
The boy faces 13 charges and will reappear in court on September 14.