BAILED AGAIN

Alleged serial offender released

A TEENAGE boy accused of continually breaking into homes while on bail has been released from custody again.

The 14-year-old was granted bail in a children’s court yesterday where he is facing 34 charges for burglaries and thefts allegedly committed between October 2017 and last Friday.

The court heard the teen had been granted bail four times in the past month, before he was granted bail again yesterday.

He had initially been charged and bailed on February 21 after an attempted burglary at Thirsty Camel in Lara.

But six days later, police allege the boy and two co-offenders smashed their way into a home in Lara, stealing two phones, a credit card and gold wedding ring.

The teen is accused of ransacking another home in Lara on March 1, before being in- volved in a car theft one day later.

After being charged and bailed again, he allegedly stole an iPhone 8 from a friend in North Geelong.

On March 8, he was bailed again, but is accused of breaking into a Windermere Rd garage last Friday.

Police claim the boy was later spotted driving a stolen ride-on lawnmower through Lara’s town centre.

The teen was rearrested on Monday.

In court, the boy’s lawyer said previous bail conditions did not set any requirement to be involved with youth services.

A magistrate granted bail with conditions including a night-time curfew and that he attend a meeting with Barwon Child, Youth and Family Services.

“It may be that he has not fully understood what it means to be on bail and complying with bail conditions,” the magistrate said.