Teenager faces court for stealing six cars from Winter Valley and Smythes Creek

A Victorian teenager went on a wild crime spree stealing six cars from three different homes in the space of two weeks.

A 15-year-old helped steal six cars from the city’s suburbs in June and July 2023.

A country teenager will likely be put on probation after stealing six cars in the space of a fortnight alongside a co-accused.

The 15-year-old faced Children’s Court on Monday, where his offending in mid-June and early July 2023 was detailed.

The court heard that on the afternoon of June 19, the boy and another person went to a Winter Valley home and gained access by an unlocked back sliding door.

They took two sets of keys, one for a Hyundai i30 and another for a ute, before helping themselves to both vehicles.

Three days later, they acted similarly at another home in the same suburb, taking two cars parked out the front, one of which was discovered dumped in Sebastopol that afternoon.

One day after that, on June 23, police were called about two males inside a house still under construction in Alfredton.

They discovered the boy in the ceiling and his colleague in the bedroom.

The pair were found to have filmed themselves driving some of the above stolen cars.

The court heard that late on July 2 or early the following morning, the same duo got into a Smythes Creek home through an unlocked garage door.

They took a handbag containing two sets of car keys, as well as house keys and cards, which let them drive away in a Suzuki Swift and an Audi.

On July 8, the accused boy was seen on CCTV entering the vehicle at a different location.

Police were then provided with Instagram conversations which showed the boy discussing meeting at Delacombe Town Centre to steal another car.

He was arrested six days later, messaging his partner in crime in the days following, saying: “Why did you snitch on me?

“I got charged for the Suzuki and I didn’t even get in it,” he said.

The court heard the boy, who is on bail, had a disadvantageous background and that after certain reports were prepared, he would “likely” receive a probation order.