Queensland

Car thief's alleged crime spree before police swarmed Brookside Shopping Centre

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Police have released more details on the pursuit of the driver of a stolen car near Brookside Shopping Centre, Mitchelton which saw up to 20 officers swarm the area on Saturday afternoon.

A 29-year-old Keperra man has been charged after allegedly fleeing a crash scene in nearby Gaythorne, but additional charges reveal the crime spree he went on in a stolen black hatchback.

It will be alleged the car was stolen from a Morayfield home on January 29, before reappearing on police radar on Saturday about 2.40pm when a man tried to steal items from a Newmarket supermarket, but his attempts were foiled by staff members.

Police said as the man left the Newmarket store he crashed into a parked car in the carpark and fled the scene, before assaulting another man in Alderley and stealing his watch and also taking alcohol from a nearby bottle shop.

It will also be alleged the accused crashed into two more cars on Samford Road, Gaythorne about 3.25pm and the driver once again fled the scene.

Members of the public followed the man as he ran across nearby rugby fields and towards Brookside shopping centre, before up to 20 police officers swarmed the area, arresting the man a short time later.

The man has been charged with 17 offences including dangerous driving, stealing, robbery, burglary, driving without a licence as well as driving under the influence.

He is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday and it is believed no one was injured in the crashes.

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