A 16-year-old boy has been charged with allegedly assaulting an elderly man and stealing his car in a daytime home invasion near the NSW-Queensland border.
Police allege a boy stormed a home on Herbert Street in Collarenebri, about 560km north-west of Coffs Harbour, before 11.40am yesterday.
He allegedly assaulted an 85-year-old man inside and stole his keys before fleeing the scene in the car.
Police arrived to establish a crime scene and began investigating.
A short time later, they found and stopped the car on Queen Street in Collarenebri.
Two boys allegedly jumped out of the car and made a run for it, but were followed by police and arrested nearby.
They were taken to Walgett Police Station, where the 16-year-old was charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent – use corporal violence, enter dwelling with intent (steal), take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and driver never licensed.
He was refused bail and will face a children’s court today.
The 15-year-old boy was charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the consent of the owner.
He was granted conditional bail and will face a children’s court next Monday.