Three people have been charged by Mandurah Detectives in relation to an incident in Erskine on Wednesday 17 January 2024, in which three boys were forced into a vehicle.
About 10:30pm, the boys – aged 11, 12 and 14 – left a house in Erskine to go to a nearby service station to buy some items. They were in the car park of a nearby business on Oakleigh Drive when they were approached by three males. It is believed the males thought the boys were attempting to break into their vehicle.
It will be alleged the three males took hold of the three boys and forced them into the vehicle, before driving them to Tims Thicket Beach which is approximately 16km away.
It will be further alleged the males left the boys in an area of bushland that is fairly remote, and only accessible via four-wheel-drive tracks.
Fortunately, one of the boys was in possession of a mobile phone and was able to call family for help.
The matter was reported to police, and an investigation into the incident resulted in three males being arrested and charged.
A 19-year-old man from Halls Head, a 19-year-old-man from Pinjarra and a 17-year-old boy from Halls Head have each been charged with three counts of ‘Deprivation of Liberty’ and one count of ‘Aggravated Common Assault’.
All three were refused bail, with the two 19-year-old men due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court and the 17-year-old boy due to appear in the Perth Children’s Court today, Friday 19 January 2024.
