Kununurra residents urged to secure property after juveniles arrested over police pursuits in stolen cars

Kununurra residents are being reminded to lock up and protect their property from opportunistic thieves following the arrests of two children for allegedly fleeing police in stolen cars. A 12-year old is the latest juvenile to be arrested following a police pursuit in a stolen vehicle on Monday night. The child’s arrest follows the apprehension of a boy, 10, who is accused of driving a stolen vehicle at two police cars, injuring two officers, during a pursuit on December 27. Acting Sen. Sgt Beccy Corcoran reminded residents not to be complacent about securing their property as there was a known mix of juveniles and adults who appeared to be looking for opportunities to steal. “These offenders are opportunists so it’s about looking out for each other,” she said. “There can be no complacency regardless of what season it is. “They are the opportunists that are there to commit crimes. It doesn’t matter if it is stealing a car or taking grog from an outside fridge.” Acting Sen. Sgt Corcoran said in an incident on Monday night, January 27, police pursued a stolen vehicle around Kununurra. “The vehicle was then abandoned and police recovered the vehicle,” she said. “Following a forensic examination of the vehicle, a juvenile was arrested and charged.” The youth is due to appear in Kununurra Children’s Court on Monday, charged with stealing a motor vehicle, failing to comply with directions to stop, reckless driving to escape a police pursuit, and no authority to drive. Last month a boy, 10, was arrested in relation to a police pursuit through Kununurra in a stolen Isuzu D-MAX. It is alleged during that pursuit the vehicle accelerated into a parked police car on Hibiscus Drive which had its lights and sirens activated. It then reversed into a second police car parked behind it. Police say the driver was arrested at the scene and later charged with six offences, including two counts of stealing a motor vehicle, reckless driving to escape pursuit by police, and endangering the life, health or safety of a person.