Two teenagers have been charged with breaking into a Bunbury jewellery store and making off with 30 watches worth $8,000.The boys, aged 14 and 15, appeared in the Bunbury Children’s Court on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege the pair walked from Bunbury’s skate park and youth precinct to the Bunbury Forum shopping centre on Sandridge Road early on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Troy Gildersleeve told the court the boys smashed up the Dome cafe before breaking into the Angus & Coote jewellery shop and making off with dozens of expensive watches.
The boys took photographs of their arms covered with the watches, Sergeant Gildersleeve alleged.The 15-year-old was also charged with conspiracy to rob another jeweller in nearby Eaton, after Snapchat messages between him and a third teenager were discovered in which they discussed using axes and bolt cutters to carry out the robbery.
Prosecutors told the court that evidence had been found on the older boy’s phone showing plans to break into D&W Browne Master Jewellers in Eaton dating back to August.
But the conspiracy charge is likely to be contested, with the 15-year-old’s lawyer, Ryan Shea, describing it as “hot talk between boys”.
“Sometimes teenage boys say stupid things,” Mr Shea said, noting that D&W Browne had not been broken into.Bail deniedMagistrate Joanne Andretich refused the 15-year-old’s application for bail, noting that he had recently been released after being held on four other aggravated burglary charges.
She described the messages, which showed alleged plans to rob another jeweller, as “chilling”, although she accepted no burglary had taken place.
Ms Andretich said she had made the reluctant decision to remand the boy to Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
“I’m always reluctant [to send children to detention] and I’m aware of the conditions at Banksia Hill at the moment,” she said.
“But I simply have no choice but to remand you to detention for the protection of the community.”
The 14-year-old was released on bail.
