Police are investigating a break-in and theft of a car from a Belair home this morning.
Just before 9.30am Tuesday 3 May, a resident of a Gloucester Avenue home heard noises inside home and found an unknown man in the kitchen. The occupant confronted the man who then assaulted him and stole his car keys and wallet. The suspect then took off in the victims Mercedes convertible and was last seen heading east on Gloucester Avenue.
Luckily the occupant was not seriously injured.
A short time later at 10.10am witnesses reported seeing the stolen Mercedes being abandoned at the intersection of Unley Road and Wattle Road and the driver running off.
A grey Hyundai iMax van was then seen to collect the Mercedes driver which sped off along Mitchell Street.
Patrols quickly surrounded the area and spotted the Hyundai van on Cross Road, Clarence Gardens.
When the driver saw police, he immediately drove off into Thomas Street and collided with three parked cars in the street. The driver abandoned the car and attempted to run from the scene but was arrested a short distance away.
Police are following positive lines of inquiry with respect to the passenger who is believed to be the man who committed the break-in at Belair.
Checks on the Hyundai iMax revealed that it had been stolen from Torrens Park on 1 May.
A 29-year-old man from Ascot Park was charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, driving in a manner dangerous to the public and other traffic offences. He has been refused bail and is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court tomorrow.
