Teen gang member and self-described 'full-time crim' breaks down in tears after car theft arrest
EXCLUSIVE: A teenager charged after allegedly ditching a stolen car in a lane of the Bruce Highway yesterday was on bail at the time.
Seven News can also reveal the youth, a member of Brisbane's 'Northside' gang, had four warrants out for his arrest for burglaries and car theft.
The 15-year-old, who describes himself on Facebook as a "full-time crim", cried today after learning he was remanded in custody until April 13.
Today Seven News' application to cover the closed court session at the Pine Rivers Magistrate's Court was declined.
Under Queensland laws juvenile offenders to the age of 18 cannot be identified and their court sessions are not public.
Seven News can exclusively reveal the teen faced around 20 charges for burglary, car theft and possession of a dangerous drug after police found he had secreted a small quantity of the illicit drug ice in his anal cavity.
The teen was arrested on Wednesday afternoon over the theft of an Alfa Romeo which was abandoned in the southbound right hand lane of the Bruce Highway near the Burpengary weighbridge around 3.50am.
A ute travelling behind the red car smashed into it and then a second car. Four more cars then hit the trio of stopped vehicles, police said.
Two drivers suffered minor injuries and were taken to Caboolture Hospital.
The pile-up damaged the road and caused traffic chaos for commuters as the highway was closed for repairs until 7am.
Police said two teens were seen fleeing the abandoned Alpha Romeo.
The 15-year-old boy who was arrested over the accident, posted a picture of himself sitting on the car on Facebook on Monday afternoon.
The car was stolen earlier that day during a burglary at a home in Jindalee in Brisbane's west.
The car was involved in a second burglary at home in Elimbah, north of Brisbane, on Tuesday, the day before the pile-up.
The Police Forensic Crash Unit has taken over the investigation and examined the car.
Seven News has learned police want to question the 15-year-old boy over whether he was driving the car and deliberately abandoned it to cause an accident.
Part of the examination included checking whether the car had run out of petrol, police said.
The boy is a member of the 50-strong Northside gang - a group of teenagers aged between 14 and 17 years old.
Last month an exclusive Seven News investigation revealed the gang are all repeat offenders who have racked up more than 1,000 charges in a two-year crime spree and left a trail of traumatised victims in their wake.
They have no regard for the law or police who continually target them for property crime, traffic offences and illicit drugs.
Police conservatively estimate they steal around a 100 cars, mostly luxury brands, a year.
The teenage gang members, some of whom have been high on drugs while behind the wheel of the cars, have been clocked by speed cameras travelling at more than 170km an hour.
The Northside plot, boast and post their criminal exploits on social media, claiming they are untouchable.
Earlier this month, members broke into the control panel of a road side traffic sign at Brendale and changed the message to "F*** the Police Norfside" [sic] and posted the image on Facebook.
Last month, Seven News also revealed the 17-year-old leader of the group of wannabe gangsters was arrested after allegedly re-offending while on bail for break and enter offences.
The teen allegedly sells stolen cars worth up to $100,000 to gang members for $500 so he can buy designer clothes and alcohol, and throw parties in hotel rooms.
He was arrested two days after new laws in Queensland raised the age of juvenile offenders to 18 years of age. The laws came into effect on February 12.
At his court appearance last month in Pine Rivers Children's Court, the 17-year-old was charged with four counts of break and enter, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and two counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
The latter charges stem from an incident outside the Morayfield State High School on February 1, when the teenager allegedly hit a female police officer trying to access the stolen car he was driving.
He allegedly hit the officer, who was knocked into a 12-year-old girl. The girl suffered a broken wrist.
The offences were allegedly committed when the youth was 17.
Had he been dealt with prior to February 12, he would have faced up to a life sentence for acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
The 17-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear again next month before the Pine Rivers Children's Court.
