The 16-year-old pleaded guilty on Wednesday to maliciously destroying or damaging property and to break and enter a house and steal items.

A release application was made on his behalf, but magistrate Andrew Eckhold remanded the boy in custody ahead of sentencing.

The boy sat in the dock as the guilty plea was entered on his behalf and the solicitor made the release application.

The court heard the teenager had been living between the home of his mother and the home of another man, who was present at the court.

The man had indicated he was willing for the boy to continue living with him if bail were granted, the solicitor said.

The court heard the man had left for a couple of days to go to a funeral, leaving the boy alone, but the defence submitted the boy complied with the conditions of his bond when the man was at home.

A Juvenile Justice officer said the teenager had attended the Dubbo office twice and re-engaged with supervision since he was placed on new orders recently.

The police prosecutor provided strident opposition to bail.

He said it appeared the young person may engage with Juvenile Justice and "tell people what they need to hear" but he was on a bond for larceny and breaking and entering.

He submitted that "during the day he may attend" those services but "the problem (was) at night time" the teenager continued to offend.

The prosecutor said nothing the boy could offer would mitigate the risk he posed to the community, including committing a further offence.

Having heard the submissions from both the defence and the prosecution, the magistrate responded.

"This is a tragedy," Mr Eckhold said.

He said he would call up the current period of control, imposed on September 22.

He refused the boy bail and said it was inevitable that a control order was going to be imposed.

The matter was adjourned until October 13.