Albany teen thieves urged to learn lesson after $6000 Lockyer service station break-in

A pair of teenagers who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $6600 worth of tobacco products and confectionery from a Lockyer service station have been urged by an Albany magistrate to learn from their mistakes. Two 16-year-old boys fronted Albany Children’s Court side by side last Friday, both pleading guilty to stealing charges. Police prosecutor Sgt Alan Dean told the court the pair smashed a rear window of the store before stealing tobacco products, confectionery and lollies in the early hours of June 15. A search warrant was issued the next day at one of the boys’ homes, where police found a backpack containing 13 tobacco pouches and 14 packets of unopened cigarettes, some more open packets, and confectionery. The teenagers’ defence lawyer Wendy Stewart said the boys “both had second thoughts” before breaking into the store, which they admitted was a “stupid decision”. “Both boys are aware of the seriousness of their offences,” she said. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan told the boys as adults they could face prison time for such an offence. Burglaries were never the answer, Ms Scaddan said. Ms Scaddan ordered the return of the stolen property, and diverted the teenagers to the Juvenile Justice team. She urged the teens to reach out for help and “not give up”. “Learn from this ... if you need help, there are people out there that can help you,” she said.