Police arrest teen car thieves who post joy ride in beauty queen’s stolen Peugeot on Instagram

A GOLD Coast beauty queen’s call to action on social media has thwarted two youths who allegedly stole her car and were posting their joy ride online. Read how she did it.

A GOLD Coast beauty queen’s call to action on social media has thwarted two youths who allegedly stole her car and were posting their joy ride online.

Charlotte Cush, a Gold Coast Miss Supercars and Ms Galaxy Australia, abruptly woke to watch her Peugeot 2008 GT 2022 disappearing out of her Merrimac driveway in the early hours of Wednesday.

Charlotte Cush - Ms Galaxy Australia in Texas, USA.

Ms Cush, also an oncology nurse, said: “I woke up because my headlights shone through my bedroom window. I actually watched them drive it down the back-end of the street and turn out.

“I called the police and they were at the house within five minutes. I put up a post on Instagram the next day telling the community and social media my car had been stolen - I asked people to share the post and that went viral.”

Ms Cush called to social media and the community to watch out for her stolen car.

Commentary flooded a community Facebook page indicating dozens of similar incidents in Merrimac and nearby Mudgeeraba that night.

“My whole street had been targeted - their cars opened, moved, touched, glove boxes open, everything,” Ms Cush said

“They did a whole sweep of Merrimac and Mudgeeraba stealing cars, going through their dashes, pretty much getting their hands on anything they could,” she said.

Ms Cush said the theft was picked up on social media by a Facebook community member who knew one of the juveniles.

“They were scrolling through Instagram and saw these teens had posted themselves hooning around the back of Bonogin in my car.

“They’ve linked it all together and I was then contacted. The power of social media came full circle.

“It’s really empowering watching the community look after each other,” she said. “We are a small one but we’re a powerful one.”

Special Oncology Nurse, Charlotte Cush won the title of Ms Galaxy Australia at the national final hosted on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

She believes her car was recovered but damaged.

Police confirmed two were located at Upper Coomera on Christmas Day.

A 15-year-old male has been charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing, six counts of driving without a licence and one count of enter dwelling and commit.

A 16-year-old female has been charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and two counts of receiving tainted property.

Both were refused bail and will appear before Southport Childrens Court.