Tradie's Heroic Response Thwarts Car Theft with Child Inside in Brisbane
A courageous tradesman in Brisbane has been hailed as a hero after his swift actions prevented a potential car theft that involved an eight-year-old schoolgirl trapped in the back seat. The alarming incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon in the inner north suburb of Wilston, highlighting the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
Dramatic Scene on Antill Street
At approximately 3:20 PM, a man clad in a black hoodie attempted to steal a car parked on Antill Street. Unbeknownst to the thief, an eight-year-old girl was still inside the vehicle, having been left momentarily by her father who was dropping off an item at a nearby house. The situation escalated rapidly when the girl began screaming for help, alerting nearby residents.
Wayne Mepham, a local tradie working across the street, heard the distressing cries and immediately sprang into action. "I heard a young girl calling out: 'I'm in danger! I'm in danger!'" Mepham recounted to Sunrise. "So I just dropped everything and ran after them." His quick thinking proved crucial in the unfolding drama.
Chase and Community Response
Mepham, along with the girl's father who had rushed back upon hearing the commotion, reached the car just as the offender abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. The pair pursued the suspect to a local 7/11 store, but lost sight of him as he dashed across a busy road, evading capture. "It was quite traumatic," Mepham noted, emphasizing the emotional toll on the child and her family. "They were pretty shaken up. The young girl was pretty frightened. I just wanted to make sure that they were ok."
Police arrived shortly after the incident and conducted a search for the man, but as of Friday morning, he remains at large. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation.
School Lockdown and Safety Warnings
The nearby St Columba's Primary School was placed into lockdown as a precautionary measure while the event transpired. The school's principal promptly notified parents via a letter, detailing the incident and issuing a stark reminder about vehicle safety. "This is a good reminder not to leave children in your car with the engine running when popping into the front office to drop something off or pick something up," the principal wrote. "Things can happen very quickly, and as a school, we are a little vulnerable given our location on a busy road."
Mepham praised the young girl's bravery, stating, "She was very brave and said the right things at the right time to try and raise the alarm. Hats off to the people who have taught that young lady to raise that alarm when she felt like she was in trouble. It allowed us to act relatively quickly to at least scare him off."
This incident serves as a critical reminder for parents and caregivers to remain vigilant, especially in urban areas where such threats can emerge unexpectedly. The community's swift response, led by Mepham's heroism, ensured a potentially tragic outcome was averted, underscoring the importance of awareness and preparedness in safeguarding children.
