Six teens arrested over alleged break-ins

Six teenagers, including two 13-year-old boys, were arrested following an alleged crime spree in Mildura this week.

Police said the teens first tried to break into a home on Ellswood Crescent through windows just before 3 a.m. Thursday, but they were blocked by a resident and fled.

Early the next morning, they tried to enter a house in Beasy Court, this time through the front door and window, but escaped again when they woke up the people in the house.

Police allege a short time later the teens successfully broke into a unit on Walnut Avenue, stole three sets of car keys, a wallet and $1,000 in cash before taking the $130,000 Dodge RAM and driving off on the property.

Detectives who tracked down the young people claimed that they were involved in other thefts throughout the night.

A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy from Mildura will appear in court on bail at a later date, while a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, also from the area, will appear in the children’s court this evening.

A 19-year-old man has also been charged in connection with the incident and will appear before Mildura Magistrates’ Court on May 12.

A 15-year-old girl was given a warning for car theft but was released without charge.

The Allan government has toughened sentences and bail laws for young offenders in the face of rising crime rates and gang violence, and experts have called for more youth and family support services across the state.