A Glenroy teenager who already had a lengthy criminal history for serious offences including robbery has done it again in a gang of three.
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The trio tried to get two 16-year-olds to hand over cash near Myer Centrepoint, then followed them and pinched a bag.
After another confrontation with the three, the victims were approached by a couple of good Samaritans.
The man and woman joined the youths in following the offenders in their car.
But when confronted with a demand to return the bag, which contained a wallet, bank cards, personal papers and a USB charger, the boy punched the man.
The boy, who police believe was born some time in 2001, has pleaded guilty in Albury Children's Court to robbery in company, common assault, stalk or intimidate and using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim said that while the charges were not before the local court, it had to be noted he was "very close to being 18 at the time".
That meant a moral culpability much closer to that of an adult than a younger person lacking maturity.
Defence solicitor Maria Wallis said her client had "very little recollection of the more serious offending" because he had been drinking alcohol. She described his intake as significant.
Ms Wallis said the most appropriate sentence for the boy would be a probation order.
The court was told the incident took place on November 23 about 9pm as the victims left QEII Square.
It was the boy's adult accomplice who demanded the cash and then the bag, which was grabbed during a struggle between the two groups.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to larceny.
That related to an incident earlier the same day where the victim went to a Thurgoona Street residence with a friend to meet the boy, who asked to see the victim's phone.
The boy then took the phone to a mate and said: "Reset it."
The victim was too scared to ask for his phone back.
Instead, he left with his friend.
The boy will be sentenced on Monday.
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