Four teenagers have been arrested following a police operation and investigation into two carjackings today.
About 3.40am (Thursday 14 July 2022), police received reports a rideshare driver had allegedly been threatened with a weapon by four males while travelling on Victoria Road, Marrickville, before his vehicle was stolen. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was not physically injured.
Officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command commenced an investigation into the incident.
About 8.15am, the car – a Toyota Prius – was found alight on Braidwood Road, Sassafras. The vehicle was extinguished and seized to undergo forensic examination.
Then about 8.40am, officers attached to South Coast Police District received reports a motorist had picked up three hitchhikers on Braidwood Road.
They allegedly threatened the driver – a 73-year-old man – with a weapon before stealing his car. The driver was not physically injured.
The vehicle was involved in a short pursuit, before being located abandoned at Araluen Road, Araluen, with the three occupants allegedly fleeing into nearby bushland.
The Mazda sedan was seized and will undergo forensic examination.
A large-scale coordinated search of the surrounding area commenced by officers from Monaro Police District, with assistance from specialist police including PolAir, the Dog Unit and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
Following inquiries, three males – aged 18, 17 and 16 – were located hiding in an abandoned house on Araluen Road, Reidsdale, just before 2pm.
They were arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station. A fourth male – aged 17 – was arrested at Narellan Police Station earlier today.
Inquiries continue.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
