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Taleah Ellis, Joel Sandri charged over alleged car heist near Sydney CBD

An Illawarra woman and a male accomplice have been charged with a brazen break and enter in a Zetland car park, with the alleged offending coming only months after she was released on parole.

Taleah Ellis allegedly broke into and stole a Mazda MX5 from a Sydney car park in December, 2022. Picture: Facebook
Taleah Ellis allegedly broke into and stole a Mazda MX5 from a Sydney car park in December, 2022. Picture: Facebook

A young Wollongong woman has been charged with a string of serious offences just months after she was sentenced for larceny.

Taleah Ellis, 22, faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday following her arrest for an alleged car park vehicle heist near the Sydney CBD.

Ellis, and her co accused Joel Sandri, were both charged with aggravated break and enter with intent to steal, two counts of stealing a vehicle, destroying or damaging property with a value greater than $15000 and driving a vehicle during a disqualification period.

Sandri was granted bail in the Sydney Downing Centre on Saturday where he secured bail after forfeiting a $2000 surety.

Documents tendered in Wollongong Local Court stated the pair allegedly drove a stolen Toyota LandCruiser into a Zetland car park about 4.30am on Monday, December 12, last year.

Police allege Ellis, who was on parole at the time, smashed a window of a Mazda MX5 which she drove out of the carpark after Sandri forced open the boom gate with the LandCruiser - causing $20,000 worth of damage.

Taleah Ellis was on parole at the time of the alleged offences. Picture: Facebook
Taleah Ellis was on parole at the time of the alleged offences. Picture: Facebook

Sandri abandoned the LandCruiser before hopping in the MX5 and driving off with Ellis.

Police allege phone records show both of the accused as being in the Zetland area at the time of the alleged offending.

During an early morning patrol on Saturday, police picked up a Mitsubishi Pantech involved in an ongoing investigation.

Taleah Ellis was denied bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
Taleah Ellis was denied bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.

Sandri was spotted in the driver's seat with officers arresting him before being alerted to Ellis’s whereabouts.

Police attended her address in Corrimal where they arrested and charged her.

In court on Monday, Magistrate Claire Girotto said she was concerned about the prospects of Ellis reoffending because it wasn't “her only break and enter, she has a couple on her record”.

Bail was denied with the matter to return to the same jurisdiction at a later date.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/illawarra-star/taleah-ellis-joel-sandri-charged-over-alleged-car-heist-near-sydney-cbd/news-story/4141e8a91faace23a2cec7a9160bf486