Five teenagers have been arrested and two charged following a pursuit in the Hunter Valley region yesterday.
Around 7:30 am on Saturday, 3 August 2024, police responded to reports of two vehicles allegedly driving dangerously at a rest stop on the New England Highway, Branxton. The vehicles were found to be stolen.
Upon arrival, officers from the Hunter Valley Police District found a white Toyota sedan ablaze. They attempted to stop the second vehicle, a black Nissan SUV, leading to a pursuit.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the fire, and the pursuit continued north along the New England Highway but was terminated due to safety concerns.
At approximately 8:25 am, police located the abandoned SUV on Thomas Mitchell Drive, Muswellbrook. A perimeter was established, and officers, with the assistance of PolAir and the Dog Squad, commenced a search of the area.
Shortly after, five teenage boys—one aged 16, two aged 15, and two aged 14—were arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
Two of the boys, aged 16 and 15, were charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the owner’s consent and granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Wednesday, 28 August 2024. The other three teenagers received a formal caution and were released.