A teenage boy has been charged following an investigation by officers from Strike Force Sweetenham into an alleged break and enter and number of vehicle thefts across Sydney's east.
Strike Force Sweetenham is an ongoing metropolitan region based investigation into aggravated break, enter and steal offences and the theft of high-performance and luxury vehicles. These offences are typically committed by teenagers.
About 1:20am on Monday 9 March 2026, police responded to an alleged aggravated break and enter which occurred at Lucas Avenue, Malabar, where a black Mercedes-Benz coupe was stolen from the driveway.
A short time later, the vehicle was allegedly used in a fail to pay for fuel offence at a petrol station on the Princes Highway, Tempe.
Just before 2.00am the same morning, a white Audi sedan – which had been allegedly stolen earlier during an aggravated break and enter at Tennyson Point – failed to pay for fuel at a petrol station on New Canterbury Road, Petersham.
About 3:10am the same morning, a number of offenders in the stolen black Mercedes Benz coupe attended a house at Taleeban Road, Riverview, and allegedly attempted to enter the premises and two vehicles parked at the location, but were unsuccessful after being disturbed by the owner.
About 6pm on Wednesday 1 April 2026, a food delivery driver allegedly had his motorcycle stolen while making a food delivery in Defries Avenue, Zetland.
About 9:30pm on Sunday 12 April 2026, a motorcycle was allegedly stolen from Glebe Point Road, Glebe. About 10:30pm the following night, the rider of the stolen motorcycle allegedly failed to pay for petrol at a service station in Erskineville.
Extensive inquiries by investigators from Strike Force Sweetenham revealed that all incidents were believed to be linked.
Following inquiries, about 9.00am today (Thursday 16 April 2026), police arrested a 16-year-old boy at Parramatta.
He was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with nine offences - aggravated break and enter with intent in company, enter building with intent to commit indictable offence, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (two counts), take and drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, obtain benefit by deception (three counts), and breaching bail conditions.
He was refused bail to appear before a children's court tomorrow (Friday 17 April 2026).
Inquiries into the incidents continue and further arrests are expected.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators attached to Strike Force Sweetenham is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
