A man will face court today after allegedly stealing a high-performance vehicle and driving in a dangerous manner throughout Newcastle.
About 2.45pm on Sunday (20 December 2020), an Audi R8 was stolen from a home on Scenic Drive, Merewether.
Police will allege in court that the driver – a 49-year-old man – committed several driving offences throughout Newcastle after stealing the Audi including, but not limited to:
- Crossing double white lines to overtake vehicles
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Speeding at approximately 160km/hr in a sign-posted 60km/hr zone
Following extensive inquiries by Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie Police District officers, police attended a home on Nooroo Close, Windale, and arrested a 49-year-old man just before 9pm yesterday (Wednesday 23 December 2020).
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, drive whilst unlicensed and break and enter house steal value more than $60,000.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 24 December 2020).
Newcastle City PD Commander, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey APM, said the manner of driving in these alleged offences is horrendous and is one of the worst examples of dangerous driving he's seen.
"It so happens that the vehicle we will allege the 49-year-old stole from the Merewether home had a dash cam which automatically turned on as it left the property.
"It is dangerous driving at an extreme level – speeding through residential areas and stop signs, over pedestrian crossings, travelling in excess of 160 km/hr in built up areas, overtaking other motorists across double unbroken lines, and crossing to the wrong side of the road.
"This manner of driving puts dozens of lives at risk.
"Double demerits are in force until Sunday 3 January 2021, and we are continuing to plead with all motorists to pay attention to your surroundings, don't drink and drive, don't speed and don't have any distractions around you while behind the wheel," Det Supt Humphrey said.
The state-wide Christmas and New Year road-safety operation started at midnight (12.01am today Thursday 24 December 2020) and concludes 11.59pm on Sunday 3 January 2021.
Double-demerit points are in force throughout for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
NSW Police officers will also be targeting other high-risk driver behaviour, including the Four Ds; drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.
Anyone with information about driving incidents 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.
