A 16-years-old Newtown boy has been charged with 21 offences following a series of property crime incidents including an alleged armed robbery at Preston.

At approximately 5.50pm on Tuesday, 31 January, it will be alleged three people attended an address on Panoramic Drive at Preston.

They allegedly threatened an occupant with a hammer before stealing two handbags containing wallets. No one was physically injured.

The group left the scene in a white Honda SUV, reported stolen from a Newtown address on Sunday, January 29.

At approximately 6.30pm, the same group allegedly attended a Hinchliffe Drive property in Kearneys Spring, where it is alleged an occupant was struck with a hammer, before stealing a BMW Z4.

The 57-years-old man sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to hospital in a stable condition.

The BMW was later found abandoned in Ipswich.

Following investigations by Toowoomba Property Crime Unit, a 16-years-old Newtown boy was taken into custody at last Friday, 10 February.

He has been charged with two counts of robbery whilst armed in company, seven counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, five counts of enter dwelling, six counts of stealing and one count of enter premises.

He has been denied bail and will appear before Toowoomba Children’s Court.

Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 9 February 2023.