💥 Teen Charged Over Merrylands Barbershop Firebombings

A teenage boy has been charged by Taskforce Falcon and the Arson Unit following an extensive investigation into the alleged firebombing of a barbershop in Merrylands last month.

Emergency services were first called to a barbershop on Merrylands Road, Merrylands, just after 4am on Thursday, 8 May 2025, responding to reports of a fire. Fire & Rescue NSW crews quickly extinguished the blaze, though the premises sustained moderate damage. Reports indicate an unidentified male may have accidentally ignited himself during the incident before fleeing the scene prior to the arrival of emergency services.

The following day, about 3:10am on Friday, 9 May 2025, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command attempted to intercept a silver Hyundai i30 on Sherwood Road, Merrylands West, which was allegedly displaying cloned registration plates. A pursuit was initiated through Merrylands West, Woodpark, and Wentworthville before being terminated due to safety concerns. Around the same time, police received further reports of another fire inside the same Merrylands Road barbershop, which, fortunately, failed to cause significant structural damage before firefighters arrived.

The State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Bechem. This strike force subsequently became part of Taskforce Falcon, a major State Crime Command operation aimed at investigating and suppressing violent crime across the Sydney metropolitan area.

As part of their inquiries, police successfully located and seized the stolen Hyundai in Glenwood on Friday, 23 May 2025. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed jerry cans reportedly containing accelerant and bleach.

Following comprehensive investigations, a 16-year-old boy was arrested yesterday, Tuesday, 10 June 2025, at Penrith Police Station. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter, destroying or damaging property valued between $5,000 and $15,000, driving a conveyance taken without the owner's consent, driving during a disqualification period, two counts of being carried in a conveyance taken without consent, and two counts of a passenger failing to disclose the driver's or other passenger's identity.

The teenager was refused bail and appeared in a children’s court on the same day. Police allege the young man was directly responsible for lighting the fires at the Merrylands barbershop and further allege the establishment has connections to a high-profile Organised Criminal Network.

Authorities urge anyone with information that may assist ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity to come forward, with all information managed confidentially.