A 14 and 15-year-old boy have been charged following an investigation into multiple property offences in Walgett last week.

Officers began inquiries following reports of multiple property offences that occurred in the Walgett area between 2am and 3am on Thursday 11 July.

Police were then called to Wee Waa Street at about 11:30am the same day after a victim of an alleged theft spotted two teenagers with shoes that were allegedly stolen earlier that morning from his home.

"Officers attended and searched the two boys – aged 14 and 15. Police located and seized car keys belonging to a Holden car and two pairs of shoes alleged to have been stolen," a police spokesperson said.

"The pair were arrested and taken to Walgett Police Station. A short time later police executed a search warrant at a home in Walgett where they located and seized a further two pairs of shoes."

The 14-year-old boy was charged with;

• Larceny (two counts)
• Enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen
• Be carried in conveyance taken w/o consent of owner, and
• Breach of bail.

The 15-year-old was charged with;

• Enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence (three counts)
• Face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence (three counts)
• Larceny value under $2000
• Enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, and
• Breach of bail.

Both boys were refused bail to appear at court on Tuesday 27 August 2024.

The arrests were part of Operation Regional Mongoose, a high-visibility police operation aimed at tackling serious property-related crime, predominately by young offenders.