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Accused teen in State care

One of the accused teens arrested yesterday.

A 13-year-old boy was in State care when he allegedly embarked on a violent crime spree with a gang of teenagers and terrorised residents in south-eastern suburbs on Sunday morning.

Perth Children's Court was told yesterday that the Department for Child Protection and Family Support would need to be involved in any bail application that may be made for the teenager.

Department acting director-general Emma White said the specific details of cases involving children in State care could not be discussed because of "reasons of confidentiality".

The department would not answer questions about issues including the type of accommodation and care arrangements that had been in place for the 13-year-old at the time of the alleged offences, how long he had been in care and whether there would be an investigation into the circumstances surrounding allegations of a crime spree committed while the teenager was being cared for by the State.

Ms White said it was inappropriate to comment while the matter was before the court.

The 13-year-old and a 16-year-old youth, who were arrested after police raided a house in Koondoola on Sunday, were remanded in custody after each being charged with 13 offences including aggravated armed robbery, aggravated burglary, stealing a motor vehicle, common assault and criminal damage.

The younger boy will appear in court again next week.

The 16-year-old has had his case adjourned until next month.

Police arrested another two juveniles in relation to the alleged crime spree yesterday afternoon after the dog squad and many officers surrounded a property in Koondoola.

The 15 and 17-year-old youths were taken into custody and charged overnight.

They face charges of aggravated burglary, stealing, assault, attempting to steal a motor vehicle, attempted aggravated armed robbery, aggravated robbery, criminal damage and stealing a motor vehicle.

Police allege the charged boys were among a group responsible for a 20-minute crime spree that involved four separate incidents in East Victoria Park and Carlisle.

The gang is alleged to have broken into a unit on Beatty Avenue about 8.20am and confronted three women before stealing handbags, phones and car keys.

The teenagers, one allegedly armed with a tomahawk, are then accused of chasing a 49-year-old man up a driveway and smashing the front door of his Bank Street home with an axe.

Police allege the group then attacked an 81-year-old woman as she was putting out rubbish at her Carlisle Street nursing home.

The teenagers are accused of pushing over the great-grandmother before attempting to steal her car.

Within five minutes, the group are alleged to have confronted an 84-year-old man at another section of the seniors' complex.

One of the teenagers is accused of wielding a tomahawk before taking the man's keys and fleeing with his car.