Teens use Gumtree to rob mobile phone sellers in Sydney’s west

Three teenagers have been charged over a string of mobile phone robberies in Sydney’s west.

Third teen charged over online robbery scams.NSW Police Media

A Sydney mobile phone scam has been cracked by NSW Police, with a third teenager arrested and charged on Tuesday.

Flemington Local Area Command set up Strike Force Hayden following a string of robberies in Sydney’s west dating back to December last year.

Each of the robberies involved users of the online marketplace Gumtree, with the teenagers posing as prospective mobile phone buyers.

Police allege once the seller arrives at the agreed location, they are then robbed of the phone by two males.

A third teen has been charged over the online mobile phone robbery scam. Picture: NSW Police Media

Areas targeted included Lidcombe, Strathfield, Regents Park, Merrylands, Brookvale, Marsfield, and Canley Heights.

At about 7.30pm on Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested at Sydney Airport, after returning from an overseas flight.

He was taken to Mascot Police Station where an arrest warrant was executed.

The boy, from Merrylands, was charged with 12 offences, including robbery in company, stealing, participating in a criminal group and being armed with intent to commit indictable offence.

He has been refused bail an appeared in a children’s court today.

Another two teens, aged 17 and 18, were charged over the robberies last month.

The teens used Gumtreee to lure mobile phone sellers to various locations in Sydney’s west, where they were then robbed. Picture: NSW Police Media

Originally published as Teens use Gumtree to rob mobile phone sellers in Sydney’s west