Alleged Car Thief Lands on Cactus While Fleeing Police in Brisbane
An alleged car thief has found himself in a painfully prickly predicament after falling onto a cactus while attempting to flee from Queensland Police officers. The incident occurred during a police operation in Brisbane's southern suburbs, resulting in the arrest of two teenage boys.
Series of Alleged Offences Across Multiple Suburbs
According to Queensland Police, the two teenagers are accused of committing multiple offences at least nine different addresses across four suburbs in Brisbane's south between March 28 and March 30. The alleged crimes spanned several days before police were able to track down the suspects.
Dramatic Chase Ends in Cactus Encounter
On April 2, police spotted the boys on Awoonga Street in Marsden after they were tracked by PolAir, the police aviation unit. Officers allege that one of the teens, a 17-year-old boy from Crestmead, attempted to flee by jumping over a nearby fence into a backyard. Unfortunately for him, he landed directly on a cactus during his escape attempt.
The teen suffered only minor injuries from the plant's spines, with police bodycam footage showing officers pulling "at least 30" barbs from his legs. During his ill-fated fall, the teenager also allegedly dropped a bag containing 10 car keys and a small quantity of cannabis.
Charges and Court Appearances
The 17-year-old was arrested and charged with multiple offences including:
- Unlawful use of a motor vehicle
- Enter dwelling
- Unlawful possession of suspected stolen property
He was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear before Brisbane Childrens Court on May 11.
Second Teenager Also Apprehended
A second teenage boy, aged 16 and also from Crestmead, attempted to flee by running into a nearby home during the same incident. He was tackled and stopped by the homeowner before being arrested by police. The 16-year-old has been charged with multiple offences including enter dwelling and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear before Brisbane Childrens Court on April 20.
Police Investigation Continues
Queensland Police have released bodycam footage of the incident showing officers removing cactus spines from the teenager's legs. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have asked anyone with additional information or vision related to the case to contact police.
The unusual nature of the arrest has drawn attention to police operations in Brisbane's southern suburbs, where officers used both ground units and aerial surveillance to track the alleged offenders. The cactus incident serves as a painful reminder that crime doesn't pay, sometimes quite literally in the most unexpected ways.
