A 15-year-old fronted the dock of Tamworth Children’s Court on Tuesday morning facing seven charges after he was arrested during an alleged scuffle with officers in Lemon Gums Drive in Oxley Vale on Monday.

Police were called to the area after neighbours reported an intruder breaking into a house just after 9am.

Two senior constables stopped and questioned a teenager acting suspiciously before he is alleged to have pushed officers and tried to run away.

He was searched and police allegedly found suspected stolen goods. The teenager is charged with breaking into a Lemon Gums Dr home, assaulting and resisting police, goods in custody and stealing offences.

He was refused bail by Magistrate Roger Prowse and will remain in detention until next month.

“This arrest was the result of the community working hand-in-hand with police,” Oxley Inspector Kylie Endemi told The Leader.

“We need residents to be the eyes and ears in our community and these neighbours alerted police to suspicious behaviour which culminated in an arrest.”

It follows a spike in break-ins since the start of the month with houses, units and businesses hit from Oxley Vale and the CBD, to South and West Tamworth, and police said most had been “opportunistic” crimes.

Between Sunday and Monday, six out of eight break-and-enters reported to police had windows or doors left unlocked or open.

“We are doing what we can in those areas with increased patrols and operations, however, we do rely on community assistance when residents see people acting suspiciously to call police,” Oxley Inspector Matt French said.

“We encourage all residents to secure their homes and keep doors and windows locked, and have sheds and garages secured, even when they are home.”

Only one break-and-enter was reported on Monday night after a Peel St business was broken into but offenders left empty handed.

The 15-year-old is the fifth juvenile in a week to be charged with break-and-enter by Tamworth police.

Last week, a 14-year-old was charged with stealing, entering inclosed lands, entering a vehicle and an unrelated break-in at a Peel St hotel.

In the early hours of Saturday, three boys aged 11 and 13, were arrested after allegedly breaking into West Tamworth Leagues Club.