Police allege thief was on bail when he crashed a car five minutes after stealing it

Two men will appear in court today after crashing a stolen car in Gungahlin last night. Photo: File.

A 27-year-old Hawker man, on bail for another offence, allegedly stole and crashed a red Fiat 500 in Gungahlin yesterday (22 July).

ACT Policing responded to the collision and arrested the driver and his male passenger, one of whom had also been arrested last week while already on bail.

Police will allege the pair stole a red Fiat 500 at about 7:50 pm last night from outside a grocery store in Gungahlin while the driver, who had left the vehicle unsecured, had gone into the store.

At about 7:55 pm, the Fiat was involved in a collision with a white Toyota Hilux on Anthony Rolfe Avenue, Gungahlin, which caused the Hilux to roll over completely and the Fiat to hit a tree.

ACT Ambulance Service paramedics attended the accident. Four people in the Hilux received treatment at the scene. One occupant was taken to hospital with suspected neck and spinal injuries. Both men in the Fiat were transported to hospital by ambulance.

The alleged driver of the Fiat, the 27-year-old Hawker man on bail, was charged with driving while suspended, property damage and driving a motor vehicle without consent.

The alleged passenger, a 30-year-old Watson man, was charged with joint commission of taking a motor vehicle and riding in a motor vehicle without consent.

Both men are due to face the ACT Magistrates’ Court today (23 July), and police expect to lay additional charges arising from other unrelated offences.