A teenage boy has been charged following a car fire in Merrylands last month. Emergency services were called to Haven Street, Merrylands at about 1.15am on Tuesday 10 February 2026 after reports of a fire.
Officers found an Audi sedan well alight. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze; however, the vehicle was destroyed. There were no reports of injuries.
Following inquiries, about 10.45pm on Friday 20 March 2026, detectives attended a home in Fairway Drive, Norwest, where a 17-year-old boy was arrested. That timing shows the investigation took more than five weeks before police moved to make an arrest, suggesting investigators needed time to gather evidence linking the teenager to the incident.
He was taken to Castle Hill Police Station and charged with 16 offences, including being carried in a conveyance taken without consent of owner (two counts), drive conveyance taken without consent of owner (four counts), learner not accompanied by driver or police officer (three counts), and learner driver not display "L" plates as prescribed (three counts).
The specific nature of the charges suggests the investigation examined the teenager's status as a learner driver and the circumstances under which the vehicle was being operated. Whether the car was allegedly stolen or whether the teenager was driving without proper supervision or visible learner plates appears central to police allegations.
The teen was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before children's court. Under NSW law, young people aged 10 to 17 are dealt with through the Children's Court system, which operates separately from adult courts and emphasises rehabilitation alongside accountability.
For further information about this investigation, readers can contact Crime Stoppers NSW on 1800 333 000.