Six young individuals faced serious charges after a high-stakes pursuit in the state’s north.
The incident involved the alleged theft of a Dodge Ram utility, a high-speed chase, and a maritime escape that saw the youths commandeering a moored yacht.
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The incident began at approximately 2:10am on March 1, when authorities received a report of a Dodge Ram utility being stolen from a residence in Skennars Head.
Shortly after the report, officers from the Mid North Coast Police District launched an investigation into the theft.
The stolen vehicle was spotted travelling on Hastings River Drive in Port Macquarie around 1am on Saturday.
Reports indicated that the vehicle had been sighted in connection with an earlier break-in.
However, according to the police, the driver of the stolen utility allegedly refused to comply with instructions to stop.
Despite efforts by police to halt the vehicle using road spikes on Houston Mitchell Drive in Lake Cathie, the pursuit was temporarily halted due to safety concerns.
The chase ultimately stopped on Aston Street in Port Macquarie, where the six young occupants abandoned the vehicle.
Four of them made a daring escape by swimming through a nearby canal and boarding a moored yacht.
The suspects, aged between 13 and 16, were then transported to Port Macquarie Police Station to face charges related to their alleged crimes.
Two boys aged 13 and 15 were charged with be carried in conveyance without consent of owner, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence and police pursuit not stop drive recklessly.
At the time of their apprehension, two 13-year-old and 15-year-old boys were denied bail and were scheduled to appear before the children’s court on March 3.
The remaining three boys were granted strict conditional bail and are expected to appear before the children’s court on Tuesday, April 2.
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