Three face court over vehicle theft

Three young men faced Manly Local Court yesterday (Tuesday, 26 November 2024) after they were charged by a police taskforce tackling vehicle thefts.

Officers attached to Strike Force Sweetenham charged the three men, two aged 18 and one aged 19, at Manly after multiple alleged break-ins across Sydney during the past three months. Strike Force Sweetenham is a metropolitan region investigation into the theft of high-performance and luxury vehicles.

On Sunday, 11 August 2024, police were called to a home at Graham Avenue, Eastwood, following reports a silver Mercedes sedan had allegedly been stolen during a break and enter. Officers attached to Ryde City Police Area Command attended and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

On Friday, 20 September 2024, a home at Banjo Street, Heathcote, was allegedly broken into by three men. The men allegedly stole a motorbike before driving off in a hatchback. A short time later, police stopped the hatchback and arrested the three men. The men were taken to Liverpool Police Station before being released.

Around 6.10pm Wednesday, 06 November 2024, police located the silver Mercedes sedan being driven at Condell Park, which had allegedly been stolen from the Eastwood home in August. When officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, it allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated due to safety concerns.

A short time later, the Mercedes was found in an underground car park with smoke coming from it. When the vehicle was searched, police located and seized two jerry cans, bottles of bleach and stolen numberplates.

Following investigations, a 18-year-old man from Doonside was arrested at Kincumber on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, and taken to Gosford Police Station. He was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, and steal motor vehicle. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Thursday, 12 December 2024.

Following further inquiries, around 3.00pm Monday, 25 November 2024, NSW Police attended Little Manly Beach at Stuart Street, Manly, and arrested three men on the sand — the 18-year-old Doonside man who had previously been arrested at Kincumber, and two other men aged 18 and 19 who were from Doonside and Seven Hills respectively.

During a search of the three men, officers allegedly located and seized knives. They were all taken to Manly Police Station, where they faced charges including breach of bail following conditions that had prohibited them from associating with each other after previous charges. They were all refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Manly Local Court yesterday (Tuesday, 26 November 2024).

The 19-year-old man from Seven Hills has been charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, police pursuit — not stop — drive recklessly, aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, and steal motor vehicle. He was denied bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday, 28 November 2024).

One of the 18-year-old men from Doonside has been charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, and steal motor vehicle. He was granted strict conditional bail, including not to associate with the other two men, and to only leave his Doonside address between the hours of 6.00am and 8.00pm, to appear at Sutherland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday, 28 November 2024).

The second 18-year-old man from Doonside has been charged with breach of bail granted in relation to the motorcycle theft. He was granted strict conditional bail, including not to associate with the other two men, and to only leave his Doonside address in the company of a parent until his appearance at Gosford Local Court on Thursday, 12 December 2024.

Image: Northern Beaches Advocate (file)