A 15-year-old boy arrested on a string of vehicle theft charges has become the first person to be charged under New South Wales’ so-called “publishing and boasting” laws.
A man, 18, has also been charged with the new offense after being arrested twice in one day following the theft of luxury vehicles, including a Ferrari, from a house in Dural, in Sydney’s northwest.
The boy is set to appear at Parramatta Youth Court on Tuesday after being refused bail on dozens of charges on Saturday.
He was the first person to be charged in New South Wales with a new performance offense offense created in March as part of a set of changes aimed at youth offenders.
The teen was also charged with 15 counts of breaking and entering, 14 offenses related to alleged vehicle thefts and bail jumping.
He was arrested on Friday along with a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man.
Two teenagers have become the first to be charged under New South Wales’ “publish and boast” laws. Pictured is a Ferrari allegedly stolen from a house in Dural, northwest of Sydney.
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The upscale Sydney suburb of Point Piper (pictured) has been rocked by a spate of car thefts earlier this year.
The older boy is being held on charges of breaking and entering, aggravated burglary and being transported in a vehicle without consent.
The trio were arrested after a Mazda SUV was stolen in Constitution Hill, in Sydney’s western suburbs, before a brief chase into Prospect.
A police helicopter and dog squad tracked the trio in bushland in Northmead, close to where the car was abandoned.
Days earlier, a BMW sedan and a white Ferrari convertible were allegedly stolen in Dural before being found in Doonside several hours later.
The man, 18, is due to appear in court on Wednesday for the robberies after he was arrested twice within hours on Friday.
He was initially released on conditional bail after being charged with aggravated criminal trespass and being transported by means of transport without consent.
He was later arrested a second time and charged with 12 additional offenses of breaking and entering, 10 offenses of vehicle theft and a charge of publishing and boasting.
NSW Police have vowed to use all available powers at their disposal to arrest and prosecute criminals who boast about their alleged crimes on social media.
The 15- and 18-year-olds allegedly stole luxury cars (one pictured) and posted videos online.
“If you publish and brag about motor vehicle theft or housebreaking offences, you will face a further two years in prison,” Detective Superintendent Darren Newman told the Daily Telegraph.
‘We are aware of a growing phenomenon of criminals posting their criminal behavior on social media, particularly involving stolen motor vehicles. Criminals need to know that this type of behavior has serious consequences.’
The use of the laws comes as emergency services and transport unions come together to call for police to be allowed to carry metal detectors in a bid to prevent knife crime, which they say has become widespread among Young.
Representatives from the Police Association of New South Wales, the Public Services Association, the Health Services Union and the Railway, Tram and Bus Union joined forces for the campaign on Tuesday.
Queensland police officers have been using the wands in nightlife areas and transport hubs since March 2023 under laws described as the “envy of other states”.
NSW Transport Workers Union president Craig Turner said allowing police to use metal detectors would make public transport workers and passengers safer.
“Queensland has shown that this takes knives off the streets, so we want to see it introduced,” he said.
Detective Superintendent Darren Newman (pictured) said officers will use all available powers at their disposal to arrest and prosecute offenders who boast about their alleged crimes on social media.