A TEENAGER is behind bars after a breakthrough in a four-month investigation into Tamworth break and enters.
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Blake Stanton was taken into the custody of Corrective Services on Monday after his bid for bail was denied in Tamworth Local Court.
Police allege the 18-year-old wasn't alone when he broke into a home in Peak Drive in Hillvue in September last year, and stole a car; as well as a similar incident in Golf Street in East Tamworth in December.
Stanton is accused of two counts each of of aggravated break-and-enter in company; take and drive conveyance without consent; and driving in a speed or manner dangerous.
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He's the second to be charged after investigations by Tamworth's dedicated break-in blitz, Operation Southbreak.
In court on Monday, magistrate Julie Soars acknowledged it would be the 18-year-old's first time in custody, but refused bail on six offences.
Stanton was not required to enter pleas in court, and will remain in custody until the case returns to court at the end of May.
Police got the breakthrough they said they needed on Sunday, and arrested Stanton in Sussex Street in Coledale about 8.40pm.
Stanton is accused of break-ins at a Golf Street home in East Tamworth in the early hours of December 14.
Police claim he is stole a white Jaguar station wagon at about 1.50am.
He is also accused of stealing a white Ford Mondeo during a break-in at a home on Peak Drive in Hillvue on the night of September 14.
Stanton and a co-accused broke into the home about 9pm, but the Mondeo was found burnt out the next morning.
A second 18-year-old man was arrested at a home in Sussex Street just before dawn on January 13. He remains before the courts.
Second arrest of its kind in as many days
It was the second arrest of its kind in as many days by the team of officers in Tamworth.
A 14-year-old boy was one of three who police allege broke into a Monteray Street home in North Tamworth in the early hours of Monday.
The first call came after reports of trespassers on a property in Napier Street at about 3.15am.
Operation Southbreak police were deployed to patrol the area before a call came in at 4.30am after a car had been stolen from a Monteray Street home.
The car was then tracked to Coledale where it was spotted in Sussex Street and crashed into a gutter before the occupants fled.
"Three young persons were seen to run from the car and one of those young people, a 14-year-old male, was detained by officers after a short foot pursuit," Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy said.
"Further investigations into the identity of the other two offenders are continuing."
The 14-year-old was taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was charged with aggravated break-and-enter and commit indictable offence; trespassing; and being carried in a stolen car.
The boy appeared in Tamworth Children's Court on Monday where he was refused bail by magistrate Julie Soars.
"This is two arrests in two days by Operation Southbreak," Detective Darcy told the Leader.
"The stolen car has been recovered as part of police investigations.
"There are at least two groups that police suspect are responsible for the offences.
"Police have identified other persons involved in break-and-enter offences across Tamworth who are now wanted by police.
"They are not linked to this group and investigations to track down those persons are continuing."
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