Teen charged over break-in at Kew home of rich lister couple Blair and Melanie James

A teen boy has been charged after allegedly breaking into a Kew mansion and stealing a rich lister pair’s Porsche. And police allege he was involved in another crime just days later.

Co-founder of Bondi Sands Blair James with his wife, Melanie.

A 17-year-old boy out on bail has been charged by police after allegedly gaining entry into the Kew mansion of Bondi Sands co-founders Blair and Melanie James, before stealing the couple’s luxury SUV.

But it was one of several alleged offences the teen has been accused of committing during a crime spree spanning less than a week, according to police.

It was about 5.30am last Wednesday when Mr and Mrs James — due to welcome their first child in coming months — were woken by footsteps inside their Fellows St Home.

At least three offenders allegedly gained access to the residence through an open window before stealing three sets of car keys, including one to a 2021 Black Porsche Cayenne, which was taken by the group.

“I woke up to footsteps in the house. We were a bit asleep but it sounded like kids running down the hallway,” Mr James told the Herald Sun last week.

“They sounded like a small person’s footsteps — you don’t expect that.”

A disturbed Mr James said his immediate concern was for his 22-week pregnant wife.

“She was pretty shook-up and obviously a lot of adrenaline pumping with the stress of it all,” Mr James said.

Mrs James quickly took to social media pleading for help from her 19,000-plus followers to locate the blacked-out vehicle, which was later recovered in Doveton on 5 June.

Melanie James, pictured with her husband Blair, took to social media to find the vehicle, which was later recovered in Doveton.

Detectives allege the teen charged over the brazen theft went on to be involved in a second incident only three days later at a Glen Iris home.

On June 3, a 2023 Audi RS3 Coupe was allegedly stolen from the residence before it was recovered in Cranbourne East on Wednesday.

The teen was arrested at an Oates Ct in Cranbourne North residence that same day.

He was charged with a string of offences including aggravated burglary, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, theft, unlicensed driving, committing indictable offence whilst on bail, failure to comply with court order and aggravated home invasion.

He was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

The arrest comes little more than 48 hours on from a separate incident where two machete-wielding offenders gained entry to a Brighton home while several residents were inside.

An 18-year-old was charged over the frightening home invasion.

A Victoria Police spokesman said the recent arrests were the result of a “dedicated city-wide operation” launched in the wake of mounting public concern.

“This has been driven by predominantly youth offenders targeting unlocked homes, with the intention of stealing car keys,” the spokesman said.

“Specialist police units, including Air Wing, Dog Squad, and Public Order Response Team, also assist on a nightly basis in tracking the movements of offenders.

“Over the past eleven weeks, this bolstered nightly police response has led to 693 arrests including 190 in relation to burglaries and car thefts while the remainder relate to drug and other miscellaneous offending.”