Dubbo youth crime: TikTok craze and social media fame sees increase in stolen cars

An increase in car theft across Australia has been attributed to youths competing against each other for social media fame on platforms including Snapchat and TikTok.

A stolen Audi, burnt and vandalised, was sitting on the side of Obley Rd for more than a month.

The thrill of chasing internet fame and instant gratification is increasing youth crime in Dubbo, with local police forming a strike force to tackle the rise in break ins and stolen cars.

The popularity of TikTok and Snapchat has resulted in various extreme crazes across Australia, with the latest seeing children and teenagers compete against one another posting car theft, dangerous driving and vandalism content to see who can get the most likes and views.

It comes after TikTok gangs emerged in May 2022 terrorising neighbourhoods across Newcastle, posting videos online of aggravated break and enters and other serious offences.

Orana Mid-Western Police District commander Danny Sullivan said the latest trend had become “a pattern that was happening across Australia” for the “overwhelming” reason of uploading dangerous driving videos on social media platforms in the hope they will go viral.

Mr Sullivan said the trend was prominent in youths aged between 10 and 17.

Orana Mid-Western Police District youth officer Amelia Cameron and commander Danny Sullivan, Dubbo.

“There is a high potentiality to end in their death or the death of an innocent person,” he said.

Strike Force Monoceros has been formed by local officers to investigate break, enter, and steal offences within the Dubbo region.

“I’m very pleased to say we’ve had a number of arrests as an outcome of this strike force and we’ve placed those people before the courts appropriately,” Mr Sullivan said.

However, Mr Sullivan said he and his team aimed to keep children out of the criminal justice system where possible and provide education through a holistic approach.

Image stills taken from TikTok videos in May 2022 of youth gangs stealing cars and breaking into homes.

He added police wanted to “divert them away from the criminal justice system” as they cannot face the risk of criminalising a new generation of young people.

“We want to understand why these young people are committing these crimes, and more importantly what we can do as a community to keep them away from the criminal justice system,” Mr Sullivan said.

He said it was important to look at the “bigger picture” and noted that the offenders may have parents who were challenged.

“It is important to know where your child is and be conscious of what they’re posting on social media,” Mr Sullivan said.

“If you are having challenges with your children, there are many services that can help you.”

With 70 per cent of car thefts and break-ins happening with the victim’s keys, Mr Sullivan said people should “control their controllables” of locking cars, locking houses and securing keys.

Youth officer Amelia Cameron said her role aimed to understand why young offenders committed offences and break down the barrier between youth and police.

“A big part of what I do is build relationships with these kids and look at crime trends and try to understand why they are committing offences,” Ms Cameron said.

Orana Mid-Western Police District understand that the children committing offences and uploading content were aiming to build their self-worth.

“They’re trying to build on their self-worth in the wrong kind of place,” Ms Cameron said.