Teen raiders cause $37,000 damage

TWO teenagers who broke into a storage shed facility causing more than $37,000 damage have been given probation and community service.

Ipswich District Court heard the boys, who cannot be named, cut through a security fence before breaking into 34 rented storage sheds by damaging their locks.

Security cameras were pushed to face upwards while the teens, aged 16 and 17 now, stole property, including a knife, coin collection, pocket rocket motorcycle, leather jacket and a PlayStation 2 console and games from the Ipswich Storage Complex at Mt Tivoli.

Crown prosecutor Suzanne Cantatore said the pair broke into 34 storage sheds but damaged the roller doors for 66 sheds in total on September 15 last year.

But the pair was caught in North Ipswich just three days later after a neighbour complained about a noisy motorbike being ridden in the street all day. Ms Cantatore said officers searched the home, where the boys lived with the 17-year-old's mother, to find the stolen pocket rocket bike and coin collection as well as a red jumper seen in CCTV footage.

The teens' fingerprints were also found at the scene of the break-in.

Ms Cantatore said the pair caused $37,105 in damage, which included the cost to repair security cameras and install superior locks.

She said the 17-year-old was on probation for two charges of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence when they pair broke into the storage sheds.

The teens pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and wilful damage and five charges of stealing.

The 16-year-old was given 18 months' probation and 80 hours' unpaid community service and the 17-year-old was given two years' probation and 100 hours' community service.

No convictions were recorded.