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15-Year-Old Arrested as New Police Taskforce Cracks Down on Youth Crime across Greater Newcastle
newy.com.au – A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with a string of offences, including theft and traffic violations, as part of Operation Soteria, the newly formed police initiative aimed at tackling youth crime in regional NSW.
The teenager was taken into custody at Charlestown Shopping Centre on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, after police tracked him down in connection with multiple offences committed in the Lake Macquarie area.
Authorities allege that in April 2024, the teen stole more than $1500 worth of alcohol from a bottle shop in Edgeworth. More recently, in March 2025, he was allegedly involved in stealing fuel and committing traffic offences at a petrol station in Edgeworth.
Following police inquiries and information from the public, officers attached to Operation Soteria arrested the boy at approximately 10am. He was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was formally charged with multiple offences, including shoplifting, unlawfully entering and remaining in a packaged liquor licence area, three counts of driving unlicensed, two counts of riding without a helmet and carrying a passenger without a helmet, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, driving a conveyance without the owner’s consent, and committing a Section 154A offence & disseminating.
The teenager was refused bail and is set to appear before a children’s court on Thursday, 20 March 2025.
The arrest is a significant early result for Operation Soteria, a statewide police taskforce launched to combat rising youth crime in regional NSW, including in Newcastle, the Hunter, Dubbo, Tamworth, and other crime hotspots.
The operation, spearheaded by NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos, is targeting high-profile youth offences such as aggravated break-ins, vehicle theft, and the social media-driven ‘post and boast’ trend, where offenders film and share their crimes online to gain notoriety.
NSW Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, stated in Parliament that the initiative is focusing on repeat offenders, who police believe are responsible for 90% of youth crime in regional NSW.
“This is about holding young offenders accountable while also offering diversion programs for those who can be steered away from a life of crime,” said Deputy Commissioner Pisanos.
Newcastle is one of the key areas where Operation Soteria’s 80 dedicated officers, including high-visibility patrols and rapid response teams, will operate over the next three months.
As part of the crackdown, police will use real-time intelligence to track social media trends, intervene with at-risk youth, and work with local agencies to redirect offenders into programs such as Youth Action Meetings (YAMS).
The ‘post and boast’ laws, introduced last year to curb social media-fuelled crime, have already led to 53 arrests, including 27 offenders under the age of 16.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said authorities are taking a zero-tolerance approach to youth crime, particularly offences that make residents feel unsafe in their own homes.
“This is about ensuring those committing these crimes face the consequences while also addressing the root causes of youth offending,” she said.
