The teenager, who cannot be named, was arrested by a specialist squad of police cracking down on property offences - codenamed Strike Force Western Mongoose - on Wednesday.

Police investigating a spate of break-ins and car thefts across the Oxley and Hunter Valley police districts went to a home in Tamworth about 10am and spoke with the boy before arresting him.

He spent the night in custody and fronted Tamworth Children's Court on Thursday, where he was granted bail.

Court documents show the teenager has not yet entered pleas to the 31 charges levelled against him.

Police allege the boy was part of a criminal group, and he is also facing nine counts of aggravated break-and-enter, four counts of stealing a vehicle and 10 counts of larceny, among other charges.

The matter was adjourned to next week.

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Strike Force Western Mongoose, launched earlier this month and headed up by Oxley police Detective Inspector Jason Darcy, made a separate arrest on Thursday morning.

Officers spotted a wanted man on Kent Street just after 4am and said they tried to stop him before he fled on a pushbike.

Police dog Alpha found the man hiding in the front yard of a Goonoo Goonoo Road home just a short time later, and the 37-year-old was arrested.

Police said he faces three counts of entering enclosed land without a lawful excuse.

He fronted Tamworth Local Court later that day.

Detective Inspector Darcy told the Leader Strike Force Western Mongoose investigators were working around the clock to collect information, CCTV and interviews with the support of additional resources.

He said more arrests were to come.

Known offenders and those harbouring them are targets of the dedicated operation.

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