Speedy car thief gets stopped in his tracks in the Far North

At about 8am on Thursday 20 November, a Toyota sedan was stolen from a hotel carpark on Waterloo Corner Road, Salisbury.

About 10.30am the car was spotted in the Far North Highway patrols on the Augusta Highway near Stirling North. Police followed the stolen vehicle at a distance and were able to keep it under observation before bringing it to a safe stop on Marryatt Street, Port Augusta.

The driver, a 22-year-old Burton man, was arrested and charged with breaching bail, breaching a barring order, theft of a motor vehicle, driving unlicenced and speeding offences; for exceeding the speed limit through the average speed camera zones along the highway. He was bailed to appear at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on 5 January.

The undamaged car was returned to the owner.

Far North Highway Patrol would like to express their gratitude to drivers on the Augusta Highway at the time of the incident. SA Police acknowledge the high-level of road safety awareness by members of the public who cleared a lane on the multi-lane highway for police to travel along unimpeded without lights and sirens. This greatly assisted police in keeping a view of the car and also helped to reduce the risk involved in resolving this incident.

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