Teen charged under new ‘post and boast’ laws after alleged Ferrari, BMW theft in NSW

A teenager has become the first person charged under New South Wales’ ‘post and boast’ laws after allegedly stealing a Ferrari and BMW from a home in Sydney's north-west.

The 15-year-old was charged with the new offence, which makes posting on social media about stealing cars or breaking into homes a crime, after the two luxury cars were taken from a property in Dural in the early hours of Tuesday 16 April.

Later that day, police tracked the white Ferrari California and BMW 3 Series to Doonside in Sydney’s west, where a knife was found inside one of the vehicles.

Three days later, at 2:00am on April 19, a Mazda CX-9 was also allegedly stolen from Constitution Hill in western Sydney, with highway patrol officers attempting to pursue the SUV before having to abandon the chase.

Half an hour later the Mazda was allegedly spotted abandoned in the same area, and police found three people – a 15-year-old, 17-year-old and 18-year-old – hiding in bushland in nearby Northmead.

The youngest teen was charged with 15 break-and-enter offences and 14 counts of stolen vehicle offences, as well as breach of bail.

If found guilty of the ‘post and boast’ charge, the teenager could face an extra two years behind bars. 

He was formally refused bail and was due to re-appear before a children's court yesterday.

The 17-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal and being carried in a conveyance without consent. He was refused bail and will appear in a children’s court on Friday.

The 18-year-old, an adult, was initially charged with the same offences as the older teenager, and granted conditional bail. 

While on bail, he was arrested again and charged with a further 12 counts of aggravated break and enter offences and 10 counts of stolen vehicle offences. He was also charged under the new ‘post and boast’ laws.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

The new laws were introduced by the NSW Government last month in a bid to crack down on youth crime by targeting those who film themselves committing vehicle-related thefts, as well as breaking and entering.