Two charged following alleged commercial break and enters – Operation Soteria

Two teenage boys have been charged following an investigation into several alleged break and enter offences at service stations in northern NSW.

Between Wednesday 4 March 2026 and Tuesday 10 March 2026, break and enters allegedly occurred at service stations in Evans Head, Broadwater, Woodburn, Kyogle, and Casino.

A break and enter also occurred at a home in Coraki where a vehicle was allegedly stolen on Monday 9 March 2026.

Inquiries suggested the incidents were linked and investigations commenced under Operation Soteria.

About 9.30am on Tuesday 10 March 2026, police attended a home in Casino where a 17-year-old boy was arrested.

He was taken to Casino Police Station and charged with 14 offences,

  • Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence (six counts)
  • Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (three counts)
  • Face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence (two counts), and
  • Armed w/i commit indictable offence (two counts).

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court that day (Tuesday 10 March 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Friday 10 April 2026.

About 8.30am on Wednesday 11 March 2026, police attended a home in Coraki where a 15-year-old boy was arrested.

He was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with 14 offences,

  • Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence (five counts)
  • Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (three counts)
  • Face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence (two counts),
  • Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company intend steal (less than $60,0000)
  • Armed with intent commit indictable offence
  • Recklessly deal with proceeds of crime (less than $5000), and
  • Beach of bail.

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court (Wednesday 11 March 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 23 March 2026.

/Public Release. View in full here.