23 April 2025

Teens crashed stolen car after high-speed joyride, police allege

| Zoe Cartwright
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Policeman standing next to police tape

Two teens will face court after a police chase from Wollongong to the Royal National Park. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Two teenagers have been charged after an hour-long police pursuit across the Illawarra.

A NSW Police spokesperson said that at about 1:25 am on Tuesday (22 April) officers attached to Wollongong Police District responded to reports of a vehicle allegedly being stolen from outside a unit complex on View Street, Wollongong.

Police saw the vehicle and attempted to stop it on Greenacre Road, Wollongong.

“When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated,” the NSW Police spokesperson said.

“Police will allege [in court] that during the pursuit, the vehicle reached speeds of up to 140 km/h in an 80 km/h signposted zone before officers lost sight of the vehicle in Woonona.

“About 2:50 am, officers located the vehicle travelling on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Austinmer, where spikes were deployed, deflating a tyre.

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“The vehicle continued north into the Royal National Park, where it crashed into a parked car on Sir Bertram Drive, near the weir crossing.

“No one was injured.”

The alleged driver, a 15-year-old boy, and his passenger, a 14-year-old boy, were arrested by police and taken to Sutherland Police Station.

The older boy was charged with taking and driving a vehicle without the consent of its owner, not stopping for a police pursuit and driving without ever holding a licence.

The younger boy was charged with being carried in a stolen vehicle.

Both boys appeared in a children’s court on Tuesday (22 April) where the driver was formally refused bail and the passenger was granted conditional bail.

They will both next appear in a children’s court on Tuesday (29 April).

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