A man was arrested after police tracked and spiked a stolen ute in the Adelaide Hills overnight.
Two vehicles had been stolen during a break-in at a business premises on Main North Road at Prospect just before 11pm on Saturday 28 May. Fortunately, the utes were fitted with GPS tracking, which police used to monitor the vehicles' movements.
One of the utes, was found a short time later abandoned in Newbon Street, Nailsworth. It was towed from the scene for forensic examination.
The other ute was tracked through the eastern suburbs to the Crafers and Stirling areas.
Just before midnight, police were able to successfully spike the ute's tyres at the intersection of Woods Hill Road and Stony Rise Road, Ashton. It will be alleged the stolen ute then drove through an unrelated crash scene at Mount Lofty Summit Road, Cleland, and struck a road sign, which then struck a CFS member. Fortunately, they were not injured.
The ute eventually came to a stop on the South Eastern Freeway near the Stirling interchange.
The driver then ran from the scene but was pursued on foot by patrols and apprehended without further incident.
The 22-year-old Klemzig man was arrested and charged with serious criminal trespass, theft and multiple driving offence, including driving without due care and failing to stop at the scene of a crash.
He will be refused police bail and expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Investigations are continuing to identify the second suspect involved in the break-in and theft of the second ute at Prospect.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
