‘Gone’: MAFS star slams cops after car, valuables stolen

A MAFS star took matters into her own hands when police failed to react to a teen’s gloating Instagram joyride inside her stolen car.

MAFS star Jade Pywell has slammed Queensland Police after her brand new Jeep and more than $6000 worth of luxury items were stolen during a home robbery last week.

Ms Pywell, who along with her partner Ridge Barredo was one of the success stories from last year’s Married At First Sight, said she was left with little faith in police after a teenager allegedly broke into their home on the Gold Coast as they slept.

Speaking to news.com.au, Ms Pywell said the pair realised they had been broken into after she went to go for a walk with a friend about 5.30am last Wednesday and couldn’t find her keys.

“I just used the spare key because otherwise I would have been late. Then I walked out the front and my car was gone,” she said.

“I woke up my partner and asked him if he had moved my car.

“We called the police straight away, and they came around and did fingerprints.”

Jade Pywell and Ridge Barredo were one of the experiment’s success stories from 2024. Picture: Instagram

The pair lives on the Gold Coast along with Jade’s daughter. Picture: Instagram

Ms Pywell posted about the robbery of her $40,000 Chery Omoda on Instagram.

She was then contacted by a friend, who told her a local teenager had allegedly been posting photos and videos driving stolen cars on social media.

It turned out the friend had also allegedly had her car stolen eight weeks ago by the same teenager.

“She sent me the video, and it was my car,” Ms Pywell said.

The friend had previously been told where the teenager lived, with Mr Barredo and another male deciding to visit the address.

“Someone who said they were an uncle said he would get the keys to us within the hour. But then the next morning, my car still wasn’t back,” she said.

Ms Pywell’s car was posted to the boy’s Instagram. Picture: Supplied

Ms Pywell supplied the joyride videos to police. Picture: Supplied

Ms Pywell said she had an anonymous phone call that “sounded like a kid” with the caller asking if she would pay for the address of where her car was being kept.

She declined to pay the money, but was later texted an address by a random number.

The reality TV star decided to go to the address with her partner and arrived to find her car. Ms Pywell said she was able to drive it home with her spare key.

She said she gave police all the boy’s information; however, they are yet to arrest him despite her designer items still missing.

Ms Pywell said she also provided police with the video of the boy driving the car, however, she said she was told it didn’t “prove” the boy had allegedly stolen the car.

“I told them I wanted to press charges for this kid making us feel unsafe in our own home,” she said.

“They said they knew the kid, but there was nothing they could do.”

Mr Barredo paid another visit to the boy’s house and was able to get a few handbags back after speaking to the parents, however, a number of items, including a diamond ring, are still missing.

“If we didn’t have all the info, I would understand, but we had everything,” she said.

“They used the excuse ‘we don’t know for sure he took it’. Well we knew … so we went and got it back ourselves.”

In a statement to news.com.au, Queensland Police said they were still investigating the incident.

“Police are investigating after a vehicle and several items were stolen from Pimpama last week,” the statement said.

“Investigations indicate that between 11pm and 5am on the evening of June 24, unknown offenders have gained access to the [Pimpama] address, before stealing items and a 2024 Chery Omoda from the property.

“The Chery was located in Woodridge on June 26, and was recovered.

“Investigations into the vehicle’s theft are ongoing.”