A teenage boy will face court today (Friday 3 November) following an investigation into two separate home invasions in Bourke which left the female occupants shaken but uninjured.

About 3am on Saturday 28 October 2023, a group of males forced entry into a home on Short Street, Bourke, and allegedly stole car keys and a Subaru Forester.

The occupant was a 52-year-old woman.

About 3.15am, police located the Subaru and initiated a pursuit, travelling throughout Bourke before being terminated due to safety concerns.

The Subaru was later found abandoned in bushland off the Mitchell Highway near Enngonia at about 2pm the same day.

In a separate incident, two males – one armed with a knife – forced entry into a home on Hope Street, Bourke at around 4.30am on Monday (30 October 2023), and threatened the occupant, an 84-year-old woman.

Police were told the woman confronted the pair before they fled on foot empty-handed.

Again, the woman was not physically injured but was taken to Bourke District Hospital for observation after suffering breathing difficulties.

Officers attached to Central North Police District commenced inquiries into the two incidents, which they believed to be linked.

Following inquiries, about 4.30pm yesterday (Thursday 2 November 2023), police attended a home in Bourke and arrested a 16-year-old boy.

He was taken to Bourke Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intend steal, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road and breach of bail.

The teen was refused bail to appear at a Children’s Court today (Friday 3 November 2023).

Inquiries are continuing.