Three teenaged men arrested during a swim at Little Manly yesterday have now been charged by officers attached Strike Force Sweetenham after multiple alleged break-ins across Sydney during the past three months.
Strike Force Sweetenham is a metropolitan region investigation into the theft of high-performance and luxury vehicles.
The three men were arrested at Little Manly Beach yesterday afternoon, about 3pm Monday 25 November 2024 in what appeared to be a coordinated land, sea and air operation.
The back story
On Sunday 11 August 2024, police were called to a home on Graham Avenue, Eastwood, following reports a silver sedan had allegedly been stolen during a break and enter.
Officers attached to Ryde City Police Area Command attended and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
On Friday 20 September 2024, a home at Banjo Street, Heathcote, was allegedly broken into by three men.
The men allegedly stole a motorbike before driving off in a hatchback.
A short time later, police stopped the hatchback and arrested a 19-year-old man and two 18-year-old men.
The men were taken to Liverpool Police Station before being released.
About 6:10pm Wednesday 6 November 2024, police located the silver sedan which had allegedly been stolen from a home in Eastwood in August.
When officers attempted to stop the vehicle it allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, the vehicle was found in an underground car park with smoke coming from it.
When the vehicle was searched, police located and seized two jerry cans, bottles of bleach and stolen number plates.
Following investigations, an 18-year-old man was arrested at Kincumber on Tuesday 19 November 2024, and taken to Gosford Police Station.
He was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, and steal motor vehicle; he was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on 12 December 2024.
It is not yet known if the trio are connected in any way to several luxury vehicle thefts in the local area over the last few months.
But police knew the men were having a dip at Little Manly Beach yesterday and swooped in to make the arrests.
During a search of the men, officers allegedly located and seized knives.
The 19-year-old man has been charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, and steal motor vehicle.
One of the 18-year-old men has been charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, and steal motor vehicle.
The second 18-year-old man has been charged with breach of bail.
All were refused bail to appear before Manly Local Court today, Tuesday 26 November 2024.
Our report on the arrests yesterday: