Northern beaches: Frightening security video captures brazen joy-riding teens targeting family home

A disturbing night time video has emerged of would-be teen joy-riders brazenly scoping out a northern beaches home — while a family sleeps inside — to steal a high-powered car. See the video

Shocking video has emerged of brazen young car thieves trying to break into a Sydney home — while a young family was asleep inside — to steal the keys to a luxury high-powered car.

The four youths ignored motion sensor alarm lights flicking on and CCTV cameras in the harbourside suburb of Clontarf as they checked doors and windows for a way to get the keys to a Mercedes Benz AMG parked in the driveway.

Wearing hooded tops, gloves and masks, they even sat down for a chat on the family’s outdoor furniture in the backyard just after 1am on June 10. The would-be thieves spent six minutes trespassing on the property in Cutler Rd.

It is believed they were partaking in an illegal social media craze where youths film themselves stealing cars and driving them at high speed.

Four people, in hooded jackets and wearing gloves, were caught on a security camera trying to get inside a house at Clontarf about 1am to steal keys to a high-powered car. Picture: Still from suppled video

The frightened family released the disturbing footage as a warning to neighbours after police told them that teen joy-riders were travelling to the northern beaches, from locations including the Central Coast and western Sydney, to steal high-powered vehicles “for kicks”.

Their alert comes after residents in another part of the northern beaches were warned about gangs of young thieves travelling from others parts of Sydney for organised crime sprees.

The Belrose, Davidson and Forestville Neighbourhood Watch group told its members that police have advised of a gang targeting the northern beaches, as well as the North Shore and Eastern Suburbs.

“They come from out west, bring with them young teens who are then sent out to scout the area systematically opportuning on unlocked cars and homes,” its chair Libby Paulsen said.

“The kids are dropped off in locations, clusters of streets, and sent to work.”

The would-be thieved had their heads and faces covered and were wearing gloves. Picture: Still from suppled video

Ms Paulsen said that police had warned that these type of thefts were on the increase.

The Clontarf resident, who asked not to be identified, said on Monday that police told her the thieves were underage teens “looking to go joy-riding for kicks”.

“They’re not looking to do a break and enter, or smash a window. They are opportunistically trying doors and window screens to get in and get the car keys.

“They’re not stealing money, jewellery or technology.”

The resident, who has primary school aged children, said she asked police if the thieves were junkies looking for things to sell easily to get drugs and if they would become violent if confronted.

“The police said the teenagers are usually completely sober and literally just underage kids, usually from broken homes,” she said.

The youths where not phased when motion sensor lights flicked on or the sight of CCTV cameras. Picture: Still from supplied video

“They target European cars or high end Mazdas and Kias and then make Tik Tok videos of themselves while they’re joy-riding.

“We were told they use the hashtag #sydneycrime.”

The resident said the brazen actions of the youths was “frightening”.

“They climbed over the fence and sat out the back on our outdoor furniture.

“We’ve got motion sensor lights that trigger an alarm system. They weren’t bothered at all by the lights.

“The police said they’ve seen them on other videos making friends with dogs. They’re not really phased by much.”

The four youths tried to open doors on the ground floor of the house in Cutler Rd, Clontarf. Picture: Facebook

The resident said police took DNA samples from the outdoor furniture.

She said police advised that two cars were stolen the same night in Balgowlah Heights.

Northern Beaches Police Commander Pat Sharkey, while not commenting on particular incidents, said police were continuing to “implement strategies to prevent and disrupt crime in the local area”.

Superintendent Sharkey said these included high-visibility patrols, compliance operations, community engagement and education.

“Leaving your valuables in open view and forgetting to lock your vehicle or home can invite unwanted attention,” he said.

“Even if your car is in the driveway of your home, never leave your keys or valuables inside. Ensure the entry points and windows of your home are always locked, even if you are there.”

Police said on Monday morning that no arrests had yet been made.