Geraldton boy, 14, involved in Northgate Shopping Centre, Pizza Hut, Woolworths Wandina burglaries remanded

A 14-year-old responsible for a string of burglaries across Geraldton over a four-month period will remain behind bars at Banksia Hill Detention Centre after accepting responsibility for 32 charges. The teenage boy appeared in Geraldton Children’s Court by video link from Banksia Hill on Tuesday when he accepted responsibility for an array of burglaries and stealing offences that occurred around Geraldton. The then 13-year-old accepted responsibility for breaking into Northgate Shopping Centre on February 5 through the roof and stealing multiple iPhones and iPads from the Telstra store, as well as a Pepsi Max from Wendy’s. The boy broke into Bendigo Bank and Pizza Hut Geraldton on February 7, where he stole a portable safe containing the daily cash takings and a car key, which he used to steal a Hyundai i30 delivery vehicle. The following week, he broke into the Tarcoola Park Tennis Club in Mt Tarcoola and stole cans of alcohol from the fridge. In March, the boy stole from the City of Greater Geraldton and residential homes in Mt Tarcoola, where he stole a handbag and jewellery and tobacco and car keys. While in police lock up for those offences, the boy damaged the police station with graffiti. The following month in April, the then 13-year-old broke into Woolworths Seacrest and stole the cash till. The boy accepted responsibility for 14 burglary and nine stealing charges, as well as damage by graffiti, criminal damage, two bail breaches, steal motor vehicle, disorderly behaviour and carrying a glass bottle used to cause fear. The boy pleaded not guilty to an unlawful assault charge that allegedly occurred on June 16. The case was adjourned until Tuesday, August 29 for sentencing, with the exception of the unlawful assault charge which was sent off for legal advice. Bail was refused.