Teen admits to burglaries and car thefts at Dubbo, Hamilton, Merewether and Bar Beach

A teenager has admitted to a series of burglaries and car thefts – including targeting three vehicles from the one home and a hire car from an earlier victim who was waiting to replace his stolen wheels.

A 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to 21 offences.

A teenager has admitted to a series of early morning burglaries and car thefts – including stealing three cars from the one family and targeting an earlier victim’s hire car he had leased as he waited to replace his stolen vehicle.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, pleaded guilty to 21 offences when he faced Broadmeadow Children’s Court on March 13.

He had been arrested by investigators from Strike Force Badger, which had been set up to investigate a surge in burglaries and car thefts across suburban Newcastle, earlier in March.

The charges include him being involved in the targeting of a family home on Pulver St, Hamilton South on January 24 where CCTV from a neighbours home showed at least five people involved.

Five sets of car keys were stolen after the home was broken into about 2.15am before three cars – a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer, a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan and a 2014 Jeep Patriot – were taken.

Thieves stole three cars from the one house during an overnight aggravated break and enter on Pulver St, Hamilton South on January 24. Picture: Google Maps.

A resident woke to hear the cars driving off and reported it to police, who began chasing two of the cars before the Jeep broke down on the inner-city bypass.

The Lancer was found abandoned a short time later on Beaumont St, Hamilton with the keys still in the ignition and the engine running.

A phone found inside the car was later linked to the charged youth.

The teen has also admitted to offences on Gow St, Hamilton North, Bar Beach Ave at Bar Beach, Merewether and Hamilton South.

He also admitted to stealing a car in Dubbo on New Year’s Eve before it was found dumped at Tarro, near Newcastle, later that day.

Court documents reveal a house on Glebe Rd, Hamilton South was targeted by the youth, who attempted to break into a hire car which had been leased by a resident after he had his car stolen during an earlier break-in.

The youth will be sentenced in April.