A teenage boy has been charged following an investigation into the alleged arson of a barber shop in Sydney's west last month.
Just after 4am on Thursday 8 May 2025, emergency services were called to a barber shop on Merrylands Road in Merrylands following reports of a fire.
Fire & Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze; however, the building sustained moderate damage.
An unknown male is reported to have accidentally caught himself on fire during the incident but fled the scene prior to emergency services attending.
About 3.10am on Friday 9 May 2025, officers attached to Cumberland Police Area Command attempted to stop a silver Hyundai i30 with allegedly cloned plates on Sherwood Road, Merrylands West.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated through Merrylands West, Woodpark, and Wentworthville, before being terminated due to safety concerns.
About the same time, police received reports of a fire inside a barber shop on Merrylands Road in Merrylands, which had failed to cause damage to the structure before Fire & Rescue NSW attended.
The matter was referred to State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit who took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Bechem.
Strike Force Bechem then become one of the 13 strike forces to make up Taskforce Falcon – a State Crime Command led operation to investigate and suppress violent crime in the Sydney metropolitan area.
As part of inquiries, police located and seized the stolen Hyundai believed to have been used in the offence in Glenwood on Friday 23 May 2025.
During a search of the vehicle, police located jerry cans containing accelerant and bleach.
Following extensive inquiries, about 10.20am yesterday (Tuesday 10 June 2025), investigators arrested a 16-year-old boy at Penrith Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of aggravated break & enter commit serious indictable offence, destroy or damage property >$ 5000 & <=$15000, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and two counts of passenger not disclose driver's/other passenger's identity.
The teenager was refused bail to appear in a children's court the same day.
Police will allege the teen was responsible for lighting the fires at the barber shop.
Police will further allege the barber shop has links to a high profile Organised Criminal Network.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
