Teen Charged After Cars Stolen, Balaclava-Clad Machete Rampage

A teenager has been charged after police allege a group of youths stole cars and wielded machetes in a NSW country town while filming video.

File photo of a man in a hoodie holding a knife on April 25, 2009. Katie Collins/PA

Police in New South Wales (NSW) have charged a teenage boy after they say a group of youths armed with machetes drove two stolen cars through the heart of the Orange township.

Central West police say the incident unfolded at 2 a.m. on Sept. 14 when residents of two different homes called to report two separate break-and-enter offences.

A car had been stolen from both homes—an LDV ute and an MG station wagon.

When police searched the area, they say they encountered the two vehicles being driven on Summer St, by a group of teenagers clad in balaclavas and brandishing machetes.

Officers directed the youths to stop, but their calls were not heeded and a pursuit was initiated.

Police were forced to abandon the pursuit, however, deciding it would be unsafe to continue.

Eventually, officers discovered the two cars parked on two different nearby streets and both were seized for forensics.

After examination of the cars, police say they discovered social media videos of the masked youths, including a 15-year-old boy, filming inside the stolen cars.

On Sept. 17, police executed a search warrant at an Orange home, arresting a 15-year-old and a 29-year-old who allegedly attempted to run from police.

The 15-year-old was charged with two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Children’s Court on Oct. 27.

The 29-year-old man was charged with two counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO and common assault DV for an unrelated incident.

Investigations into the incident continue and police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The sleepy country town located about 260 kilometres inland of Sydney is best known for its agricultural background and wineries, often labelled the “food and wine capital” of the state.

In the past decade, crime has been decreasing in Orange, though crimes like theft still rank among the most reported incidents.

Victoria Bans Machetes

Machete crime has become a subject of increasing concern in some parts of Australia, with Victoria announcing it would be a prohibited weapon from Sept. 1, 2025.

Residents in Victoria who need a machete for a legitimate reason such as farming or hunting can only access the tools by applying for a special exemption.

In Victoria, an amnesty is currently in place until Nov. 30, where anyone who has a machete can dump it in a specially designed bin.

However, the cost of the bins and the effectiveness of the ban have been questioned.