THREE teens have been released on bail after an alleged crime spree around Bendigo.
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A 14-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl, and 13-year-old boy appeared in a children's court on Tuesday after they were charged with offences including theft of a motor vehicle.
The court heard about 10.35am on April 5 this year, a man parked his Toyota Camry on a Melbourne street and went into a store.
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The man left the car running with the keys still in the ignition.
About 16 seconds later, police alleged a 15-year-old boy - who is known to police but yet to be charged - entered the vehicle through the driver's side door.
The teen was captured on CCTV footage allegedly driving the car away from the scene with an unknown female in the passenger seat.
Police alleged the 15-year-old girl, who fronted court on Tuesday, filmed the theft on her phone but did not enter the car.
The court heard about 7.40pm on April 9, the 15-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy allegedly drove to a Golden Square service station in the stolen car.
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Police alleged the girl filled up the vehicle with $47.06 in petrol before the pair allegedly left the service station without paying for the fuel.
The court heard about 11.30am on April 12, witnesses in Eaglehawk allegedly saw a group of teens exit a Toyota Camry and rummage through a white Nissan Hilux ute.
The owner of the ute checked his vehicle and noticed his Samsung mobile phone was missing.
About 1pm that day, a witness was driving behind the allegedly stolen Toyota in the Bendigo CBD.
The driver saw the car perform a u-turn and park behind a grey Mercedes-Benz.
The 15-year-old boy, who was allegedly driving the Toyota, exited the car and allegedly rummaged through the Mercedes but did not take anything.
The court heard the witness continued to follow the stolen car and saw it stop behind a red Mercedes-Benz.
Police alleged the 15-year-old boy got out of the stolen car and entered the Mercedes.
The witness followed the Toyota Camry and allegedly saw a wallet thrown out of the window.
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Detectives located the wallet, which contained identification cards. The owner of the red Mercedes confirmed it was her wallet. A second wallet containing coins was also allegedly taken from the vehicle.
The court heard about 1pm, the 15-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl, 14-year-old boy, and 13-year-old boy were allegedly captured on CCTV footage inside the stolen vehicle at a Golden Square service station.
The 13-year-old allegedly filled up the car with $60 in petrol before returning to the vehicle. The 15-year-old boy allegedly drove the car away without any of the occupants paying for the fuel.
Police alleged sometime between 1.30pm and 2pm that day, the teens broke into a vehicle in Kangaroo Flat.
The victim, who was notified of the theft by a witness, went to their car and noticed that a phone, leather wallet, and $800 in cash was missing.
The witness said the teens had crashed their car nearby.
Police arrived at the scene and arrested the 15-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy. The 14-year-old jumped a fence in an attempt to flee the scene but police arrested him.
Officers allegedly found one of the stolen mobile phones in his possession.
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The court heard the 15-year-old boy fled the scene and was yet to be located.
A police informant gave evidence that the 13-year-old told police the 15-year-old boy had been speeding in excess of 200km/h along the Calder Freeway during the alleged crime spree.
The informant said the younger boy had felt scared for his life and had been coerced into offending by the 15-year-old.
The magistrate said the 13-year-old and 14-year-old boys were the lesser offenders in the alleged crime spree.
She granted them bail on the condition they abide by a curfew and not contact the other co-accused.
The 15-year-old girl was also granted bail on several conditions including youth justice supervision.
The magistrate warned the teen she needed to stay away from the 15-year-old boy, who police described as the "kingpin" of the offending.
All three teens will return to a children's court next month.
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