Two more youths have been charged a series of break and enters in Katherine last week.
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The youths, aged 16 and 17, began their crime rampage at a Katherine school last Tuesday night.
They, and others, had committed crimes from Katherine through to Adelaide River and then Palmerston before they had finished.
Katherine police arrested 12-year-old for the same run of thefts and break-ins last week.
During one of the crimes, at a Katherine hotel, they were confronted by an employee.
"The 17-year-old threw a carton of beer at the employee to avoid apprehension which caused the employee to sustain head injuries," police said.
Police claim the two males badly damaged a school building in Katherine on Tuesday night following unsuccessful attempts to gain entry.
Thwarted, they went to another school about an hour later and had more luck, managing to break in.
Once inside, they stole a quantity of cash, police allege.
They then returned to the first school where they were beaten this time by security alarms.
Police claim the 17-year-old went to a Katherine hotel early the next morning (March 13) with co-offenders - including the 12-year-old.
They broke into the premises and stole a quantity of alcohol before being confronted by an employee at the location. police claim.
"The 17-year-old threw a carton of beer at the employee to avoid apprehension which caused the employee to sustain head injuries," police said.
The 17-year-old attended a third school where another co-offender forced entry.
No items were stolen in this instance.
He later went to another business where he and the 16-year-old forced entry and stole a quantity of alcohol, police said.
Later that evening, the 17-year-old unlawfully entered a car dealership in Katherine where he stole a vehicle using keys he located at the premises.
The vehicle was driven through the locked entrance gates before being abandoned at the Katherine Low Level Bridge.
Another car dealership was entered around 12.50am on March 16 in Palmerston.
Once inside, the 16-year-old and 17-year-old stole numerous car keys and a vehicle. They exited the compound through the main entrance gate at speed, police also allege.
Approximately two hours later, a licensed premises in Palmerston had a quantity of alcohol stolen following an unlawful entry.
On the same morning in Adelaide River, offenders unlawfully entered a licensed premises where they stole a number of items at approximately 3.20am, police said.
Police observed a heavily intoxicated male driving a stolen vehicle with two passengers at Jasper Gorge on the Buchanan Highway around midday the same day.
Timber Creek Police commenced a pursuit when the vehicle failed to stop.
The stolen vehicle sustained a blown tyre which caused the vehicle to slow down.
The driver and one passenger jumped out of the moving vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. A tyre deflation device was deployed in front of the vehicle to prevent it from travelling further.
Police apprehended all three vehicle occupants following a short foot pursuit.
They were arrested and conveyed to the Katherine Watch House where they were charged yesterday.
The 16-year-old male was charged with:
- 8 x unlawful entry - building
- 9 x damage to property
- 7 x stealing
- 1 x attempt unlawful entry - building
- 1 x unlawful use of motor vehicle
The 17-year-old was charged with:
- 8 x unlawful entry - building
- 6 x damage to property
- 6 x stealing
- 1 x attempt unlawful entry - building
- 1 x unlawful use of motor vehicle
- 1 x aggravated unlawful use of motor vehicle
- 1 x drive motor vehicle while unlicensed
- 1 x breach of bail
- 1 x drive vehicle dangerous manner pursuit
- 1 x aggravated robbery
A second 16-year-old male was released from custody pending further investigation.
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