A 17-year-old boy from Coober Pedy is due to face the Youth Court today after being charged in relation to a break-in and car theft at a local caravan park last week.
Police were called to the caravan park at about 4.30am on Friday, 26 December, following reports that a person had broken into one of the cabins. During the incident, two sets of car keys and a vehicle were allegedly stolen.
It is alleged the boy used the stolen car to ram the caravan park gates before driving around town. The vehicle later became bogged on the side of the Stuart Highway.
Police allege the boy then returned to the caravan park with another person and attempted to take a second vehicle but was frightened off by staff.
Police attended both the caravan park and the location of the bogged vehicle, which was recovered with the assistance of a member of the public. Crime scene investigators examined the car, and further investigation led police to search a house on Giles Street, where the boy was located and arrested.
The second set of stolen car keys was also recovered.
The boy has been charged with theft, illegal use of a motor vehicle, property damage, and driving unlawfully. Bail was refused, and he is scheduled to appear in the Coober Pedy Youth Court today, Monday, 29 December.