Carnarvon boy, 10, accused of home burglaries in Rangeway released on bail to family

A 10-year-old Carnarvon boy has been granted bail without curfew after allegedly stealing jewellery and damaging the inside of a home during two break-ins with two accomplices. Geraldton Police arrested three boys aged 10, 12 and 14 after they allegedly broke into two houses next door to each other in Rangeway on Saturday. Outside court, police operations manager Sgt Shilo O’Neill said Geraldton Police would allege a 10-year-old boy among others gained entry from a window by removing the security fly wire. It is alleged during the break in, there was an attempt to cut open a firearm safe with an angle grinder in the shed. The prosecuting officer told Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday that police will allege the 10-year-old stole a pearl necklace, gold earrings and gardening gloves from the property. The boy was also accused of kicking and damaging a gyprock wall inside the house. The defence lawyer requested the boy be allowed back to his family in Carnarvon without curfew conditions due to his young age. The court was told the boy’s guardian did not want police arriving in early hours of the morning. Wanting the accused to be with his family, Magistrate Angus Hockton granted the boy’s return to Carnarvon without a curfew. He said the accused was clearly too young to be away from a responsible adult. “I will support a curfew if the family does,” Mr Hockton said. He is charged with multiple counts of aggravated burglary and stealing and one count of criminal damage and will face Carnarvon Children’s Court on June 27.