Alleged Jeep thief broke into home and stole keys from a sleeping woman’s bedside table.

By ANNA USHER

A masked man allegedly broke into a Balgowlah Heights home and stole the keys to a family car from a bedside table next to a sleeping woman.

Manly Court has heard there were also children asleep in the house when Connor Mauler, 20, and two accomplices — one aged 14 — allegedly entered the house early on Monday morning.

Police will allege in court that at about 2.20am on Monday, Mauler and two others entered a house in Adrian Pl, Balgowlah Heights.

The keys to the Jeep were then allegedly taken from a bedroom, waking the woman up.

Following a dramatic pursuit, three males were seen running from the wreckage and Mauler was arrested.

As reported by Mosman Collective, a boy, 14, was later found in nearby Pearl Bay Ave.

He was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, face disguised with intent commit indictable offence and passenger not disclose driver’s/other passenger’s identity.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday.

The third occupant of the allegedly stolen car is yet to be arrested.

During a bail application, Mauler’s Legal Aid solicitor said his client was addicted to prescription medication benzodiazepine and had recently moved to Port Macquarie to get away from “influences” in Sydney.

In opposing bail, the police prosecutor said while he conceded it could not be confirmed which member of the group “did what”, police would rely on a “joint criminal enterprise” argument.

“The woman was alone with children,” the prosecutor told the court.

“One of the group went to the bedroom while she was sleeping, took the keys and woke her up.”

Magistrate John Andrews refused Mr Mauler bail.

The matters have been adjourned for mention to Manly Local Court on September 4.