POLICE have captured a teenager in Inverell wanted for a string of alleged break-ins as well as an attempted robbery where a walker was randomly stabbed.
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New England police cornered the 16-year-old boy in Queens Terrace in Inverell last week, after a month-long search.
He’s facing a raft of charges stemming from alleged incidents across Inverell and Armidale.
Magistrate Michael O’Brien refused the 16-year-old bail on Thursday in Inverell Children’s Court and ordered him into juvenile detention after finding he was an unacceptable risk to be on bail.
The teen has now been taken to a juvenile detention centre where he will remain until at least April.
Police allege the 16-year-old also broke into a Bennett St house in Inverell and confronted an 80-year-old woman in her bedroom in the early hours of February 18.
Police claim the woman was threatened by an intruder armed with a metal blade on a garden tool who also demanded a gold chain she was wearing.
And, police allege the teenager broke into a Wynn St home on February 17 in Inverell and stole keys and a car which was later found dumped.
The teenager is also accused of stabbing a 34-year-old man who was walking along the bike path in Armidale on January 10, in an attempted armed robbery.
In addition, he is charged with receiving stolen goods after a taxi driver was allegedly robbed in McBean Ave on January 15 in Armidale.
New England Inspector Roger Best said the offences were “particularly concerning” and police had thrown all resources available to the investigation which culminated in the charges.
“This is a very pleasing arrest after what we allege are very brazen offences,” he said.
“It's unusual for our region to have property crime involving violence and certainly it has been a significant priority for our investigators since these offences occurred.”
The teen is facing charges of assault with intent to rob in company causing wounding, receiving stolen goods, robbery in company, stealing a car, unlicensed driver, and aggravated break-and-enter.
Two other co-accused teens, aged 15 and 16, charged in connection to the Armidale bike path attempted robbery and stabbing remain before the court.