Boy admits to robbery role

A teenager has been ordered to undergo an intensive youth supervision order after pleading guilty to taking part in a burglary at the Geraldton Croquet Club earlier this year. Late on the evening of August 12, the 14-year-old and three friends attempted to break into and rob the club on Maitland Street. The boy initially acted as a lookout for the others, but soon got involved himself and using a brick, broke open the power box to try to disable the security system by switching off the power to the building. After doing this, another friend used a brick to smash a window and gain entry to the clubroom. The four would-be thieves then rummaged around for money and valuables but found nothing. When police arrived all four fled, with the 14-year-old and one other arrested later that night. The court was told the youth was already under a 24-hour restrictive bail order which required him to be at his primary residence at all times. Magistrate Brionie Ayling said to not deal out any punishment for this offence was “nonsense”. “We want the offending to stop,” she said. Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Georgia Keysers asked the magistrate to consider the age of the offender despite a lengthy record of similar crimes. The magistrate issued a six-month intensive youth supervision order, including 20 hours of community service work and check-ins with the juvenile justice team.