Two teenage boys have been charged over a vicious attack on a 75-year-old man at Toowoomba on Monday.
Police say the North Toowoomba man was waiting at a taxi rank on Margaret Street at approximately 5pm when he was pushed from behind, causing him to fall to the ground, before his backpack was stolen.
The man was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, where he remains in a critical condition.
“Polair and police tracked an allegedly stolen vehicle following the incident, which was intercepted on Hermitage Road at approximately 8.40pm,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“The two occupants allegedly left the scene on foot. The dog squad were deployed and located the pair, an 18-year-old man and 16-year-old boy, a short time later hiding in bushland.”
They were taken into custody and charged.
Following further extensive investigations, police today attended a Drayton address where a 17-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were taken into custody without incident.
The 17-year-old boy has been charged with armed robbery with violence, grievous bodily harm and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
The 16-year-old boy has been charged with armed robbery and grievous bodily harm.
The 15-year-old boy has been charged with burglary, enter dwelling and commit, stealing and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
All will appear before Toowoomba Children’s Court.
A 13-year-old boy was also taken into custody at the address, in relation to an unrelated robbery investigation and several other recent property crime offences.
“It will be alleged at approximately 7pm on February 4, a group approached a 37-year-old man making a deposit at an ATM at a James Street shopping centre in Newtown, and stole a quantity of cash,” Police said.
The man was not physically injured in the incident.
The 13-year-old boy has been charged with robbery, attempted enter premises with intent, enter premises with intent, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and two counts each of stealing and possess dangerous drugs (subutex and cannabis) and he will appear before Toowoomba Children’s Court.
Police are providing support to the family of the 75-year-old man, who remains in a critical condition.
“The family would like to thank the community for their support and request privacy at this time,” Queensland Police said.
“Investigators would like to thank the community for their assistance and continue to appeal to anyone with information or relevant dashcam footage to come forward.”