Police have arrested a man who allegedly stole a vehicle from a woman feeding her baby at Maroochydore yesterday, charging him with more than 20 offences committed between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
It will be alleged that the man broke into a number of Brisbane addresses on September 1, stealing vehicles from Morningside, Kedron and Gordon Park.
It is further alleged that yesterday morning, around 6.20am, the same man broke into a home at Minyama and stole a Landcruiser. The Landcruiser was then witnessed allegedly travelling at speed on the wrong side of the Nambour Connection Road, forcing other drivers to take evasive action.
After abandoning the Landcruiser in Woombye around 9.20am, the man then allegedly broke into a Woombye residence where he was confronted by a female resident. The man grabbed her, demanding car keys, before fleeing the scene in another Landcruiser.
The vehicle was later abandoned at Buddina where the man entered another home and made threats to the occupants, before stealing their Landcruiser.
He drove the stolen car to a shopping centre at Maroochydore, then on foot approached a woman sitting in a vehicle feeding a baby.
The man allegedly ordered the woman and infant from the vehicle before fleeing the scene in the car.
Police conducted immediate patrols of the area, tracking the car through the Maroochydore, Buderim and Sippy downs area as it allegedly was driven dangerously at speed, through red lights.
The stolen vehicle stopped at Sippy Downs where the alleged driver, a 35-year-old man, was immediately taken into custody.
He has since been charged with:
1 x Armed robbery (use personal violence)
1 x Robbery
2 x Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
6 x Burglary
6 x Unlawful use of motor vehicle
1 x Enter premises and commit indictable offence
1 x Attempted enter premises
1 x Stealing
1 x Attempted UUMV
1 x Wilful damage
He was remanded in custody today and is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court, November 4.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
