A teenage boy is accused of assaulting a shopkeeper and stealing alcohol before breaking into a Hunter council building and taking a ute on the weekend.
Police allege the 17-year-old and two unknown people assaulted a staff member at a bottle shop on Maitland Road at Muswellbrook about 10pm on Friday, May 22.
They trio allegedly made off with alcohol. Police said the 46-year-old man who had been working at the store was not injured in the ordeal.
It was about three hours later, at 1.30am on Saturday, May 23, that the 17-year-old boy allegedly broke into a council building on the same street.
Police claim he stole the keys to a Nissan Navara and drove away.
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The boy was allegedly joined by a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy when he is accused of breaking into the council building again about 3am that morning.
Police allege they damaged furniture inside, electrical items and another vehicle that was parked at the location, before fleeing.
Emergency services were called to Beech Street at Muswellbrook about 5.30am after reports the Nissan Navara ute was found on fire.
Investigations into the string of alleged incidents throughout the night led police to arrest the 17-year-old boy at Muswellbrook Police Station just after midday on Monday, May 25.
He was charged with robbery in company, stealing a motor vehicle, driving a stolen vehicle, having his face blackened or disguised, two counts of breaking and entering, and three of destroying or damaging property.
The boy was refused bail to face a children's court on Tuesday, May 26. Police said the 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy would be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
