UPDATED: Phillip Island car thieves caught after Porsche crash
Police are on the hunt for two men who have gone into hiding at Cape Woolamai. Police Airwing have been called in to help on ground patrols search for the men. The pair were first spotted in Cowes driving a stolen Porsche and were then tracked to...
At about midday on Wednesday, July 5, local police from the Cowes Police Station, the Wonthaggi Police Station, the Bass Coast Highway Patrol and the Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit, responded to a burglary which had occurred at a residential premises in Red Rocks Road Cowes, where a silver Porsche 211 and a black Volkswagen Golf were stolen.
At approximately 1pm, police observed the silver Porsche in the area of Phillip Island Road in Cape Woolamai.
It is alleged that the silver Porsche drove erratically to avoid police, and was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle at the roundabout at the intersection of Phillip Island Road and Woolamai Beach Road.
Fortunately one of the police helicopters was able to get to the area very quickly, and after some searching, located the abandoned silver Porsche in Princeton Avenue.
Not long after, the police helicopter located the two alleged offenders, being a 37-year-old male and a 18-year-old male who were both from Phillip Island, attempting to hide in the coastal scrubland of Woolamai Park.
The alleged offenders then ran along the foreshore, scaling the cliffs and dunes, and running along the sand in a futile attempt to avoid police, with multiple police units converging on the beach and surrounding areas.
In scenes more suited to cattle mustering in the Northern Territory, the police helicopter mustered the two alleged offenders along the beach, shepherding them into the safe hands of uniform police and detectives who were arrested the alleged offenders near The Colonnades.
After the arrest of the alleged offenders, the black Volkswagen Golf was located by police in Redwood Drive Cowes.
The 18-year-old male has been released, pending further enquires.
The 37-year-old male has been charged with offences including Handle Stolen Goods, Theft Of Motor Vehicle, Reckless Conduct Endanger Life and Driving Whilst Unlicensed. The 37-year-old male has been bailed to appear at the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on the 12th of October 2023.
The investigation into the burglary remains ongoing.
Police would like to thank the local community who provided police with details and sightings of the vehicle and alleged offenders, and also offered assistance to the police who were running along the sand.
Your local police are also appealing for the driver of the vehicle that the silver Porsche collided with at the intersection of Phillip Island Road and Woolamai Beach Road to make contact with police. Police believe that this vehicle might be a blue coloured Holden Commodore wagon, which will have likely damage to its’ side mirrors.
If you have any information regarding this incident, including any Dash-Cam footage, please contact Crime Stoppers on telephone 1800 333 000 or online at: https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/
