Alleged knife-wielding teenage carjacker to face court

A 16-year-old boy will face the Children’s Court charged with 12 offences. Photo: File.

A 16-year-old boy will face the Children’s Court today charged with multiple offences after he allegedly threatened a driver with a knife, punched him and carjacked a Ford Mustang at Calwell shops yesterday (15 August).

Police allege that at about 8 am yesterday, the boy approached the car and threatened his victim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, with a knife. He then allegedly punched him during an altercation.

The driver then handed his keys over and the teenager allegedly drove away in the car.

Police detected the car in Chisholm at 3 pm. It’s alleged the driver crossed to the wrong side of the road to avoid stop sticks.

Less than an hour later, police found the car again and the boy reportedly drove along a footpath to evade police.

The car was then located in a greenbelt area where it had become bogged. An attempt had allegedly been made to set the vehicle alight.

The driver was apprehended by police a short time later while attempting to climb onto the roof of a shed in Wentcher Place, Richardson.

The boy was then identified as a recidivist 16-year-old offender who was subsequently charged with 12 offences including breach of bail, aggravated robbery, taking a motor vehicle without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of a knife, driving a motor vehicle without consent, drug driving, three counts of dangerous driving, unlicensed driving and displaying false number plates.

The incident follows repeated calls from the police union for the ACT Government to review sentencing and bail in the ACT.

The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) was prompted to issue a statement following a drug driver on bail being stopped by police on Sunday (14 August).

Anyone who witnessed the alleged incident in the Calwell Shops car park yesterday morning or a blue Mustang being driven erratically during the day is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website and quote 7187900.