A 35-year-old man from Spring Hill in Brisbane has been charged with 25 offences following an alleged six-hour knifepoint carjacking rampage across the city on Wednesday. Police allege the man stole two vehicles and attempted to steal several others during the spree, which ended with a dramatic arrest at Alderley after a major PolAir operation.
The Alleged Spree
According to Queensland Police Service (QPS), the alleged rampage began around 8am at a home in Chelmer, where the man allegedly threatened a woman with a knife before stealing a blue BMW coupe. The woman was not physically injured. Police tracked the BMW from the air as the man allegedly targeted multiple other drivers across Brisbane.
About 1.45pm, the stolen BMW was spotted on Kittyhawk Drive at Chermside, where police allege the man got out and stole a white Audi A1 from a 67-year-old driver. The older man was allegedly dragged along the road during the incident and later taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Police Pursuit
PolAir followed the Audi through Chermside and Stafford, with police alleging the driver crossed onto the wrong side of Gympie Road during the pursuit. Investigators allege the man attempted to steal at least five more vehicles at knifepoint before he was arrested near the intersection of South Pine Road and Farrington Street at Alderley about 1.52pm while allegedly trying to steal another car.
Charges Laid
The man has since been charged with three counts each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and attempted unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. He also faces two counts each of wilful damage, attempted armed robbery, breach of a domestic violence order, and attempted robbery with violence. In addition, police have charged him with single counts of robbery with violence, evading police, obstructing police, making threats, and stealing.
Police bail was refused, and he was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.
