Man wielding imitation gun charged after carjackings, police pursuit
“I’m not quite sure what this complaint is about,” Lobb said.
He then got into trouble and entered a convenience store at the intersection of Sayers and Tarneit roads in Hoppers Pass, where he allegedly attempted to buy a canister and assaulted a store clerk before fleeing. The officer was slightly injured.
Police allege the man tried to steal a silver Honda Civic by pointing the fake gun at the driver stopped at the intersection. They refused and ran to a nearby store.
He is accused of then pointing the fake gun at the head of a second driver in a white Mitsubishi wagon stopped at the same intersection. He drove away “disorderly” in the carriage, leaving his wife and the car owner behind physically unharmed.
By then, his wild driving was already drawing the police’s tail, Lobb said.
Police tracked the vehicle to Dryburgh Street in North Melbourne and allege the man abandoned it before hijacking another vehicle at gunpoint, this time stealing a silver Hyundai sedan.
The Hyundai was later dropped off at Lonsdale Street just after 8.45am. Specialist police teams arrived at the scene and caught the suspect after a short chase on Crossley Street.
Security cameras from a nearby building recorded the man walking calmly in a suit, holding an imitation gun and smoking a cigarette moments before he was arrested. Later, the police were seen inspecting the area and collecting cigarette butts from the scene.
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The arrest comes amid a 24-hour frenzy on Melbourne’s roads. Two separate unrelated car chases also emerged as police tracked down car thieves and arrested two more men in northwest Melbourne on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Premier Jacinta Allan said she trusted Victoria Police to ensure security in the CBD. New move to direct more officers to the front line.
Detective Senior Sergeant Luke Flint praised the co-ordinated police response that led to the man’s arrest within an hour; No officers or bystanders were seriously injured.
“However, it must be acknowledged that there are victims and witnesses who will be significantly affected by this,” he said.
