Matthew Davis: Masked western Sydney teen jailed for stealing luxe 4WD on northern beaches

Matthew Davis, 18, travelled from western Sydney and wore a black mask and clothing to knock off a luxury 4WD on the northern beaches. See what happened in court.

Matthew Davis, 18, of Greystanes, wore dark clothing including a hooded jumper and black face mask when he stole a luxury 4WD from a Seaforth home. Davis was jailed for 12 months by Manly Local Court. File picture: iStock

A teenage thief wearing a black hoodie and a mask over his face when he brazenly broke into a property to knock off a luxury 4WD on the northern beaches, has been jailed by Manly Local Court.

Matthew Davis, 18, and an accomplice, had travelled from Sydney’s west to prowl the streets of Seaforth after midnight to find a car to steal, the court was told.

Davis, from Greystanes, who had a lengthy police record as a juvenile offender that included burglaries and stealing cars, was arrested a day after stealing the high-powered black Range Rover Sport from outside a house in exclusive Edgecliff Esplanade.

A 2022 Range Rover Sport. A 4WD similar to this was stolen from outside a home at Seaforth after a thief managed to get the keys from inside the home’s garage during a late night burglary. File picture: Supplied

Just minutes before stealing the SUV early on November 1 last year, Davis and the co-accused attempted to break into a house around the corner in Seaforth Cres, but were scared off when security lights were triggered.

Davis pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated enter dwelling in company with intent to steal; steal motor vehicle and; enter building with intent to commit indictable offence.

Magistrate Robert Williams sentenced Davis, who was in custody on remand, to 12 months behind bars. He must serve a minimum of seven months before he’s eligible for parole.

The court had been told that the Range Rover was parked on the street outside the owner’s home, but its key was in the centre consol of a Mercedes 166 SUV parked in the garage.

In a facts sheet tendered to court police explained that at 12.05am Davis and his accomplice were captured on security camera footage approaching the front door of a house in Seaforth Cres.

When a sensor light was triggered, the pair ran away.

Then at 12.23am the pair were seen on another CCTV camera entering the garage of the house in Edgecliff Esplanade. At 12.25am they were seen running toward the Range Rover, entering the vehicle and driving off.

Matthew Davis, 18, was sentenced to 12 months in jail by Manly Local Court for stealing the Range Rover and breaking into a property at Seaforth. (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

The facts sheet stated that other CCTV footage showed Davis and the co-accused walking in surrounding streets prior to stealing the Range Rover,

Davis was wearing a black face mask, a black hooded jumper, black tracksuit pants and black shoes.

At 11.20pm the next day, November 2, the stolen Range Rover was involved in a police pursuit. Davis, who was passenger in the 4WD, was arrested and charged.

The court heard that a mobile phone seized by police contained photographs and videos of the Range Rover.

One of the videos showed Davis near the car.