A Border teenager has fronted court following the incident in the early hours of July 15.

The 16-year-old was one of three people who targeted the Lawrence Street home, near the Wodonga Tennis Centre, about 2.20am.

The teenager waited outside, acting as a lookout with another offender, as the third person made their way inside the home.

Once inside, the intruder targeted a set of keys but woke one of the two residents who had been sleeping in a bed. 

The burglar managed to leave with the keys despite being disturbed and the trio fled with a 2011 Suzuki Alto worth about $8000 after pushing it down the driveway.

The 16-year-old drove the vehicle to his home in West Wodonga to pick up two others, who squeezed inside the small car. 

The group drove around the city for a while before crossing the border in Albury.

They decided to dump the car in water but attempts to push the vehicle off an embankment failed, so they set it on fire instead in an apparent bid to destroy it. 

The 16-year-old was later arrested in NSW and served a month in custody before being released back into the community in August. 

A co-accused had made full admissions.

A court heard on Tuesday the boy had committed the offending due to being “bored”.

Defence lawyer Sally Wilson said there had been a positive change in the 16-year-old’s life after being released from jail.

The month behind bars had been “a real turning point for my client”, she told the court.

But the magistrate said his behaviour had been “really serious offending”.

“It really bothers me you did this because of boredom,” he told the boy.

“I don’t want to see you back here.”

He said there had been a spate of similar offending about a year ago and suggested the teenager may have been friends with those involved in the incidents. 

The teen is engaged with Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation and is undertaking work at a community college.

The court heard he had been learning about his culture, which the magistrate encouraged him to continue with. 

He was disqualified from obtaining a learner’s permit for three months.