18 June 2021

Stolen Jeep eludes police in Parkway pursuit

| Kim Treasure
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Police car

Police are seeking information after the driver of a stolen black Jeep eluded capture. Photo: File.

ACT Policing is seeking the public’s help to identify the driver of a stolen black Jeep who eluded capture after a police pursuit on Wednesday, 16 June.

They are asking for witnesses and/or dash-cam footage of the Jeep driving dangerously along Tuggeranong Parkway shortly before 11:00 am.

A Road Policing patrol first detected the stolen vehicle, a black Jeep Cherokee with Queensland number plates 302 SJR, on Caswell Drive in Bruce at about 10:55 am.

READ ALSO Thief stole bushfire evacuee’s car after robbing a man donating to charity on Christmas Eve

Police were able to follow the Jeep undetected along the Tuggeranong Parkway while a second Road Policing patrol positioned itself at Cotter Road. The driver failed to stop for officers but stop sticks were successfully deployed, deflating a front tyre.

Police continued to pursue the Jeep, which exited at Hindmarsh Drive before conducting a U-turn to head north on the southbound lanes of the Tuggeranong Parkway.

Due to immediate safety concerns, the officers did not follow the vehicle.

The Jeep was later found abandoned on Fowles Street in Weston. Road Policing received support from the AFP Canine Team, Specialist Protection Command and general duties officers but the offender could not be located.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have information about the incident or have dash-cam footage of the Jeep from around 11:00 am on Wednesday.

READ ALSO ACT Government prepares to push forward with raising age of criminal responsibility

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Quote reference 6825461. Information can be provided anonymously.

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Perhaps the stolen jeep got caught on camera by a fixed revenue raiser. Oh that’s right, average Joe with a registration gets stung, but Clive Criminal laughs all the way to the next stolen car

CraigFromCurtin1:02 am 19 Jun 21

ACT Policing, like most (all?) police jurisdictions in Australia, give up pursuits far too easily. The crims know exactly what they need to do to have police call off a pursuit and give police the finger as they speed off, knowing full well that they can get away unhindered. Try this in the US and see what happens. The Bourke St Melbourne tragedy of a few years ago is a classic example. Police had several occasions on which they could have stopped driver Gargasoulsas, including when he was doing donuts just before he entered Bourke St and where even members of the public were trying to stop him while police watched on, but instead they sent him text messages (while he was driving!) pleading with him to stop. I don’t blame the cops on the beat but weak leadership. Just weak.

Phil Tarrant2:13 pm 22 Jun 21

I disagree. Too many lives have been lost and huge cost to the public after police chases. I would rather see insurance pay out on 50 stolen cars than have a child or adult or policeman killed in a chase.
It’s only a car, who cares….
It’s not like the thief can always get away with it, modern technology allows police to catch plenty of thieves. If we put more money into vehicle tracking/disabling technology it wouldn’t be worth stealing them. Lets get onto that instead.

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