South West detectives have charged nine teenagers aged from 15 to 17 with 171 offences relating to a series of burglaries across the South West
In October last year, detectives set up Operation ANTIGUO to investigate a series of break-ins which targetted jewellery and retail stores in Busselton and Bunbury.
Investigations identified links to similar offences in Mandurah, Rockingham and Maddington.
Police established that offenders had used recently stolen vehicles in the offences.
Property and vehicles valued at about $1 million were stolen and damage in excess of $250,000.00 was caused.
On October 6, the offenders were disturbed at the Mandurah Forum Shopping Centre committing a burglary on a jewellery store and two police vehicles were subsequently damaged as the offenders fled, driving in a dangerous manner to evade arrest.
Investigations led to several houses in Bunbury and Carey Park which were subject to search warrants and resulted in the recovery of some of the stolen property, vehicles, cash and drug related items.
The teenagers from Bunbury, Carey Park, Withers and Huntingdale are due to appear in Bunbury Children’s Court on March 17.
