Operation Soteria charges laid against alleged teen driver - Mid North Coast

Tuesday, 26 August 2025 08:42:11 AM

A teenaged boy has been charged with multiple property related offences allegedly committed in the state’s north.

About 12.30am on Tuesday 15 April 2025, officers attached to Manning/Great Lakes Police District were patrolling Bonvale Close, Rainbow Flat, 13km north west of Black Head, when they saw a ute allegedly being driven dangerously.

Checks revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen from a home on Cowan Road, Taree, about 10pm the previous day (Monday 14 April 2025).

With the assistance of the Dog Unit, five boys – three aged 14, one aged 15 and the other aged 17 – were arrested at Tuncurry Beach after the vehicle was located in sand dunes.

They were taken to Taree Police Station where they were each charged with two break-and-enter related offences. They appeared before a children’s court in the same month.

Following further inquiries, Manning Great Lakes Police arrested the 15-year-old boy yesterday (Monday 25 August 2025), at Taree Police Station where he was charged with an additional 22 offences,

• Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (three counts)
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (nine counts)
• Larceny
• Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company intend steal less than or equal to $60000 (eight counts), and
• Breach of bail.

The boy appeared at children’s court yesterday, where he was refused bail to appear at the same court today (Tuesday 26 August 2025).

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