13-year-old allegedly steals vehicle from workshop after keys stolen in Wonthella

A Wonthella business was allegedly targeted by a group of juveniles after two sets of car keys were stolen from an office and a customer’s car was stolen the next day.

Geraldton police allege a group of juveniles were near Auto Pit Shop, an auto repair workshop on Pass Street, during business hours on Monday, September 14.

Acting officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Stuart Gerreyn said an employee saw one juvenile walking out of the office.

“(The worker) noticed two keys had been stolen when he checked to see what was going on,” he said.

The next night on Tuesday, September 13, Sen. Sgt Gerreyn said a customer’s vehicle was stolen from the business and later recovered by police on Fifth Street in Wonthella on Wednesday morning.

“Police arrested a 13-year-old boy later that afternoon,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Gerreyn said the second set of keys was still missing.

“The customer becomes the innocent victim and this is part of a broader issue,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Gerreyn said there was a pattern of re-occurring crime from a particular group of juveniles.

“There is a group of people who believe they can reoffend without consequences, but police will catch up with them and they will be charged accordingly,” he said.

The 13-year-old was charged with stealing a motor vehicle and faced Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 15.

He was bailed on a curfew and is scheduled to reappear on Tuesday, September 20.