Police allege 13-year-old and friends took stolen car on ill-fated joyride

A 13-year-old boy, along with three friends, allegedly drove a stolen car from Dunmore to Nowra and back again before an ignominious crash into a Kiama garage, police say.

Three of the teens who were allegedly in the car have been charged over the alleged joyride.

A NSW Police spokesperson said the crash which led to the boys’ arrest followed an alleged police pursuit.

“About 2:45 pm on Sunday 5 January police were notified of an alleged stolen vehicle travelling north on the Princes Highway, Nowra,” the NSW Police spokesperson said.

“The car was monitored and about 3:30 pm, officers attached to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop the vehicle on the Princes Highway, Kiama near Spring Creek Drive.

“When the car allegedly failed to pull over, a pursuit was initiated.

“The pursuit continued into Kiama Downs, when the vehicle allegedly lost control and mounted the nature strip on Flinders Avenue and continued onto North Kiama Drive, before allegedly hitting a garage door and coming to a stop.

“Four males aged between 13 and 17 allegedly fled the scene before they were arrested nearby.”

The boys were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.

The alleged driver, a 13-year-old male, was charged with driving a conveyance taken without the consent of its owner, a never licensed person driving a vehicle on the road, driving recklessly or dangerously and not stopping for a police pursuit.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a Children’s Court on 5 March.

A 13-year-old male passenger was charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the consent of its owner.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a Children’s Court on 4 February.

A 17-year-old male passenger was charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the consent of its owner.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a Children’s Court on 21 January.

A 16-year-old male passenger will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Police will allege the car was stolen between 9 pm on Saturday 4 January and 3 am Sunday 5 January 2025, from a home in Dunmore.