Geraldton police charge boy, 13, over alleged phone burglary at Northgate and stealing Pizza Hut company car

A 13-year-old boy accused of breaking into Northgate Shopping Centre and Pizza Hut and stealing mobile phones, cash and a vehicle has been released on bail. He is accused of climbing through the roof of Northgate Shopping Centre and smashing a management office window on Sunday, February 5, between 2-3am. Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Chris Martin alleged the boy landed on the counter of Wendy’s ice-cream shop and forced open the Telstra store’s roller shutter door, where he allegedly stole demo mobile phones. The store manager said the demo phones were “useless”. Sen. Sgt Martin said police also alleged the boy smashed the front door window of Pizza Hut on Durlacher Street and crawled into the building between midnight and 8.25am on Tuesday, February 7. “Once inside the store, the (alleged) offender has forced the office door and stolen a portable safe which contained the takings for the day and the vehicle keys for the local delivery vehicle,” he said. “A donations container from the front counter has also been smashed and the coins scattered on the floor.” Sen. Sgt Martin said a vehicle was stolen and later recovered on Abraham Street in Karloo. The 13-year-old was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and commit and stealing and one charge of stealing a motor vehicle. He appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday, February 9, where he was granted bail. The court was told the boy was on bail and a curfew at the time of the alleged latest offences after being charged with aggravated burglary in December. The boy does not have a criminal record, but police prosecutor Sen. Const Paul White suggested the boy should receive time in custody as a “sharp lesson” against reoffending. The boy’s lawyer said the boy knew he had made a bad decision and needed to stop hanging with older boys who had been a bad influence on him. The boy has not been attending school, but his lawyer said he wanted to start and would comply with a curfew. Magistrate Angus Hockton granted the boy bail with a curfew and on the condition he does not associate with two other boys. “I’m giving you a second chance; you probably will not get a third chance,” Mr Hockton said. The boy will reappear on February 14 as Mr Hockton said he wanted to see if progress had been made on getting the boy to attend school.