A teenager has made a case to be released on bail after she was arrested for allegedly stealing cars and a goat from an animal shelter.
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The 17-year-old girl appeared via video link from custody at a children's court on Monday.
The police informant said the teenager and a co-accused allegedly gained access to a car in the driveway of an Alfredton house on December 31 and found keys to a Mitsibishi Triton.
They used the keys to steal the car from the front of the property.
The court heard the teenager allegedly drove the car to the Ballarat Animal Shelter and stole a goat from a fenced pen, transporting it in the Triton to their home in Wendouree.
She has a choice as to where she goes and what will happen to her.
- Magistrate
The police informant said the pair drove the car back to the animal shelter and left it there, where police also found a wallet containing the co-accused's ID and other stolen items.
The teenager is also accused of stealing a Toyota Hilux on January 3 or 4 with the co-accused from a Soldiers Hill property that had the victim's work tools inside.
Police allege they drove to Canadian and broke into another car and stole medication and the co-accused stole shoes from the front door.
The court heard they are accused of driving the Hilux to Alfredton where they allegedly cut through a fence and removed tyres and rims from a parked car.
They are also charged with stealing a Ford ute from Alfredton on January 6 and stealing fuel.
Police saw the stolen car and followed it, but the accused ran off, the co-accused was arrested and the accused was later arrested when police executed a search warrant at her Wendouree home.
A defence lawyer said the teenager had spent five days in custody and it was her first time in a youth detention facility.
The lawyer said a combination of factors met exceptional circumstances for bail, particularly as there were sentencing options open to the court other than jail.
The lawyer conceded methampetamine use was an issue. She said the teenager had a difficult upbringing but her mother and sister were supportive.
The magistrate said she was concerned the teenager was 'out of control'.
"She has a choice as to where she goes and what will happen to her but if she keeps this up she will be going to one place and one place only," the magistrate said.
The magistrate released the teenager on bail to live with her mother and attend a drug and alcohol intake assessment on Tuesday.
She warned the teenager would not be granted bail again if she reoffended.
The accused will be subject to a curfew and supervision from youth justice while on bail.
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