Kaileb Lamelza, Sarah Good: Pair granted bail after allegedly smashing up cars
A young Illawarra pair have been granted bail after police allege they smashed up more than 50 cars across a number of suburbs, allegedly telling police it was a “fun thing to do”.
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A young Illawarra pair told police they smashed up more than 50 cars causing more than $100,000 worth of damage because they thought it was “a fun thing to do”, a court has heard.
Kaileb Lamelza, 18, and Sarah Good, 20, were arrested on Wednesday and charged with 65 counts of malicious damage after police allege they vandalised more than 50 cars in the Lake Illawarra area over a two-week period.
The court was told when they were arrested, police allege they admitted to the damage, with Lamelza appearing “disinterested” and “showing no remorse”.
The pair spent the night in cells at Wollongong Police Station before facing Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday morning, where Magistrate Claire Girotto agreed to give them bail on the condition they stayed under house arrest.
Magistrate Girotto slammed Lamelza and Good’s alleged actions, saying it was “mindless behaviour”.
“This is a very strong case involving ordinary people who were going about their business trying to make a living,” she said.
“This was just mindless behaviour … I don’t understand the logic of it.”
In documents tendered to the court, police allege Good, Lamelza and two other teens began their alleged trail of destruction on July 16.
After receiving an “unusually high volume” of reports of malicious damage to vehicles in the suburbs of Barrack Heights, Warilla, Port Kembla, Mt Warrigal and Oak Flats, police launched an investigation.
On that day alone, police allege 22 vehicles were damaged, with windows and driver’s side mirrors smashed.
The incidents allegedly continued on July 24 and 25, when a further 22 vehicles were damaged, this time in Kiama Shell Cove and Jamberoo.
On the same nights, 16 more vehicles were allegedly damaged in the Nowra area. Police investigating the incident were able to track down CCTV footage of one of the alleged vandal attacks, and saw a suspect Mitsubishi Lancer driving around the area.
At 1.30am on Wednesday morning, police were patrolling the Barrack Heights area where they allegedly witnessed the same Mitsubishi Lancer, according to court documents.
Police allege they stopped the vehicle and saw Good, Lamelza and two other teens inside.
Lamelza was seated in the rear of the car, where police allegedly saw a wooden hockey stick and broken glass at his feet.
The group was placed under arrest and taken to Lake Illawarra Police station, where officers allege in court documents that Lamelza admitted to 31 of the reported incidents.
“He said the reason was ‘it was a fun thing to do’,” court documents read.
“He would use the hockey stick, lean out of the Lancer and smash parked vehicles for fun.”
Good refused to be interviewed, however allegedly made a comment at the time of the arrest saying she was the driver of the vehicle. It’s also alleged she “smirked” when told about the financial impact of the damage.
While Good and Lamelza were charged, the other two people found in the vehicle were released pending further inquiries.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege the group smashed everything from Mercedes and Volkswagens to Holden Astras, causing more than $100,000 worth of damage.
As part of Lamelza‘s bail, he was ordered to steer clear of drugs and alcohol and will be assessed for a rehabilitation program.
In forming her decision to grant bail, Magistrate Girotto noted both Good and Lamelza were young and had no prior criminal history.
The matters will return to court in two weeks.