Watch: Teens’ joy ride in allegedly stolen disability service cars

Footage has emerged on social media of Brisbane disability support service vehicles that were bought with community grants being taken on an alleged joy ride by teens. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Teens allegedly involved in the brazen theft of two disability support vehicles have shared their dangerous joy ride on social media.

In the early hours of Sunday, December 8, a group of teens are alleged to have broken into the MACS Kedron office where they stole car keys, mobile phones, and took off in two of the vehicles.

MACS General Manager Alison Herring said the incident caused significant disruption and led to substantial out-of-pocket expenses for the company.

The company, which provides in-home support for people living with physical disability, returned to normal services the following day, but Ms Herring said “it’s been a real challenge to get that happening”.

“We have had to get new phones for our staff and hire cars, which has left us out-of-pocket quite a lot,” she said.

“Our team really stepped up on the weekend to make sure everything was in place so people’s services were not interrupted, because we provide critical support to our clients.

“They can take our cars, but they can’t stop us doing what we do.

“Our clients are very important to us and we’ll basically move heaven and earth to make sure that they continue getting their support”.

The footage posted to Instagram shows the teens driving recklessly in the allegedly stolen vehicles, with one car being found “wrapped around a tree and written off”.

“One of the cars that was stolen we only got a few months ago,” Ms Herring said.

“We were actually lucky enough to receive a $35,000 grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, which was put towards the purchase of that car so we could support more people”.

One of the vehicles recovered after a group of teens allegedly stole two vehicles from MACS Kedron on Sunday, December 8. Picture: MACS.

Queensland police have confirmed that two teenagers have been charged in relation to the alleged theft.

One of the stolen cars was found in the Toowoomba suburb of Darling Heights, and the other was found in Gatton later that day.

Police have charged a 14-year-old Redbank Plains bow with four counts of attempted enter premises, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle, receiving tainted property and enter premises and commit indictable offence by break.

A 15-year-old Darling Heights boy has been charged with possessing dangerous drugs.

While a 16-year-old Yamanto girl was dealt with provisions under the Youth Justice Act.

Police confirmed investigations are continuing.

Ms Herring said that because the alleged perpetrators are teens, they are unlikely to recover the losses through insurance.

“Insurance companies can’t make any recoveries on it, so even if they catch them, they can’t recover the costs,” she said.

“There could be no recovery through insurance or anything along those lines such as excess and the financial impact we have endured, so that will have to sit with us.

“This senseless act has so far cost us $16,000.

“MACS vehicles are key to our operations, without them we cannot operate, therefore they are valued immensely by our company.

“We have a commitment to our customers; we arrive every time and while this has been a massive inconvenience, they can take our wheels but we are not defeated!”