A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a fire at a barber shop in Merrylands, western Sydney, believed to have ties to organised crime. The incident occurred shortly after 4am on May 8, prompting emergency services to respond to the blaze, which caused moderate damage to the premises.
Reports suggest that an unidentified male sustained burns during the fire but managed to flee before help arrived. The following day, police attempted to intercept a silver Hyundai i30 with suspected cloned plates, leading to a brief pursuit that was called off for safety reasons. Around the same time, another fire was reported at the same barber shop, although it was extinguished before causing significant structural damage.
Investigators have now integrated this case into Task Force Falcon, aimed at tackling violent crime in Sydney. On May 23, police recovered a stolen Hyundai, discovering jerry cans filled with accelerant and bleach during a subsequent search. Just a day later, they arrested the 16-year-old in Penrith.
He has been charged with multiple offences, including two counts of aggravated break and enter and causing property damage estimated between $5,000 and $15,000, alongside various driving-related violations. The teenager was denied bail and is alleged to have been responsible for the fires at the barber shop, which police assert is associated with a prominent criminal network. Authorities are appealing for anyone with further information to reach out to Crime Stoppers.