A 13 year old female has been charged with Breach of Bail, Aggravated Unlawful Entry, Criminal Damage, Stealing, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle and Drive Unlicensed.

A 14 year-old female will be considered for Youth Diversion in relation to charges of Unlawful Entry, Stealing and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.

The charges relate to an incident in Katherine early this morning.

Police received a mobile phone call at about 3.30am from the 13 year-old stating that she and a friend had crashed their car into a tree and were lost east of the township.

Checks by Police revealed that the car and the mobile phone used had been allegedly stolen from Fordham Street in Katherine earlier in the night.

Police members began a search for the girls who were unable to identify any landmarks.

After about an hour of searching the girls were found by Police and promptly arrested.

Both girls were uninjured however the car had suffered extensive damage.

Police will allege the girls broke into the house in Fordham Street, stealing a mobile phone, wallet and car keys.  They have then used the keys to drive the car from the premises.

The victim is a 74 year-old invalid pensioner.

Superintendent Brent Warren from Katherine Police said it was extremely disappointing to see that the elderly victim in this matter has suffered significant loss as a result of the alleged actions of these two young people.

"Making matters worse, they ended up lost, putting themselves and their rescuers’ safety at unnecessary risk if they had not been located in a timely fashion".

"I commend the work of the Katherine Police who responded swiftly and thoroughly to the investigation of this incident, resulting in one alleged offender being placed before the Court the same day that the offences were committed." Superintendent Warren added.

The 13 year-old was refused Police bail and will appear before the Katherine Youth Justice Court today.