NSW cops stood down after viral CCTV prank on ute owner - but not everyone thinks they're in the wrong

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 00:08, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 00:08, 20 July 2026 NSW Police has launched an internal review after a group of officers were captured taking the keys from a ute while its owner grabbed a coffee. A local business owner left his ute running as he ducked into a cafe at Rouse Hill, in Sydney's north-west. CCTV captured an officer wearing an armoured vest removing the keys from the ignition before joining his colleagues inside the cafe. As the confused motorist returned and began frantically searching for his missing keys while talking on his phone, the officers were seen inside laughing hysterically. An officer then went outside to approach the increasingly agitated man, who handed over his licence. Things escalated when the officer handed back the keys and was soon joined by several colleagues, who questioned the owner. The officers then appeared to taunt the man as he drove away. The officers involved have since been placed on alternate duties. A police officer is seen removing the keys from ignition while the owner grabbed a coffee The confused owner returned to the ute to find his keys missing 'NSW Police is aware of a video circulating on social media,' a spokesperson said. 'The officers involved are attached to NWM Region and the matter is currently under review. 'The actions of police are the subject of further investigation.' The CCTV footage has racked up more than one million views on TikTok and divided viewers. The officers' 'petty' behaviour was widely condemned. 'All five of these cops should be charged with theft and should be fired,' one wrote. One woman added: 'This is wild behaviour! The cops in this country continue to surprise me, and not in a good way.' Others urged the man to take legal action. The officers were captured on CCTV laughing as the confused ute owner searched for his keys But some pointed out that the motorist was in the wrong. 'Dumb as it may be, is it illegal to leave your keys in your car?' one wrote. Another added: 'He was breaking the law, so the police officer secured the keys and removed the risk.' A third said: 'Yeah, they may have been rude about it, but they were obviously just trying to prove a point. It only takes three seconds for someone to steal a car with the keys in it.' In NSW, the fine for being more than three metres from your vehicle while the keys are in the ignition or the engine is running is $114.