Teen accused of breaking into John “Dr Turf” Rothfield’s home was allegedly on five-day crime spree

A teen charged with a break-in at the home of media personality John “Dr Turf” Rothfield faces more than a dozen offences over an alleged crime spree.

John "Dr Turf" Rothfield had his home allegedly raided by armed thieves. Picture: Enhance Entertainment

A teen charged with a break-in at the home of media personality John “Dr Turf” Rothfield faces more than a dozen offences over a five-day alleged crime spree.

The boy, 16, was on bail when it’s alleged he broke into the media veteran’s Armadale property armed with a knife and two other unknown offenders, and stole two cars.

The broadcaster earlier said his daughter was confronted by the youths, on January 16.

Charge sheets obtained from a children’s court now reveal that the alleged aggravated burglary at Rothfield’s was among a string of break-ins and car thefts across Eaglemont, Malvern East, Thornbury, Hawthorn and Surrey Hills.

The teen faces 16 charges between January 14 and 18, including five counts of committing an offence while on bail.

Police allege the boy stole three 2017 Volkswagen golfs — including one from Rothfield’s home — a 2018 Porsche cayenne and a 2013 Mercedez Benz.

The alleged crime spree begun in Eaglemont where a Volkswagen was stolen on January 14, then identification was taken from a car in Hawthorn on January 15.

A series of break-ins by three alleged offenders with a knife then occurred in Armadale and Malvern East, where three cars were stolen on January 16.

On January 17 there was an attempted aggravated burglary in Thornbury, then a theft of a Volkswagen in Surrey Hills on January 18.

The boy did not appear in the children’s court for a short administrative hearing on Friday, which was carried out by his lawyer in his absence.

The court was told he had “been in custody before” and had other charges currently going through another court.

As part of the case, prosecutors sought to analyse phones, seek DNA and obtain CCTV and police body worn camera footage.

The teen, who was in custody, was ordered to return to court in April.

Rothfield is considered a shrewd horse racing observer and has worked as a broadcaster on SEN and RSN927.