IT’S not exactly the ‘wild west’ but it might have seemed like that to a couple of farm fertiliser workers at Fish Creek on Tuesday this week, one of them apparently celebrating his birthday in unexpected style on the day.
What alerted these eagle-eyed local blokes to a crime in progress at a farm shed on Falls Road Fish Creek was the sight of a grey-blue Isuzu ute which had been doing the rounds on social media during the week, especially among the local footballing fraternity.
The ute was posted on Facebook and Instragram after it had been stolen from a property at Outtrim on Saturday/Sunday, February 4/5.
The ute is owned by a well-known, former Korumburra-Bena footballer.
- Oh no mate! Will keep an eye out, heading to island, was one response to the Facebook post.
- That's crazy, I'll keep an eye out. You should look up Code9cyber, heard they're really good at tracking vehicles. I hope this helps, said another.
The messages went viral among young local residents.
So, it’s hardly surprising that when the farm supplies staff saw a similar-looking ute, with no plates, they went to investigate.
It has been reported that the offender took off from rural location in Fish Creek, with the local guys following, heading down Meeniyan-Promontory Road towards Wilsons Promontory.
Apparently the offender was throwing tools and other stolen material out the window of the car, at the trailing locals, not only trying to get them to stop, but also to get rid of stolen goods.
It has been reported that the offender drove at speed through roadworks on the Prom Road, where he may have sideswiped a car, and clearly didn’t know the area, because he continued on into the Prom; one road in and one road out.
Meanwhile, local police had been alerted and while they followed the alleged offender at one stage, discontinued their pursuit due to the high speed of the offender.
Sometime later, the driver of the stolen local ute, re-emerged from the Prom, evaded capture and took off towards Foster.
He sustained a puncture and ultimately stopped outside Aherns Fruit Shop in Foster with the rear wheel stripped down to the hubs – according to a photo posted on Facebook.
Again social media lit up.
- [Name] chased the mutt this morning through fishy!
- Shame they let the bloke go back out to cause more crimes
Police have issued a statement, calling for dashcam footage:
Police were called to an allegedly stolen vehicle driving erratically toward Willsons Promontory about 10am on Tuesday, February 7.
Police patrolled the area and located the car at an address in Shelcot Road, Yanakie.
They attempted to arrest the driver and deployed OC spray but were unsuccessful.
Police initiated a pursuit of the car but it was quickly abandoned.
'Stop stix' devices were then deployed successfully on the road, however, the driver "sped through roadworks on three wheels" and was eventually intercepted and arrested in the township of Foster..
Investigators from Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit arrested and charged a 28-year-old Mirboo North man with theft of motor vehicle and serious driving offences. He ppeared at court today (Wednesday, February 8, and was remanded to appear again at a later date.
It's alleged that the male drove the dark-coloured, dual cab Isuzu tray ute in the Fish Creek, Yanakie and Foster areas of South Gippsland between 10am - 11:30am on Tuesday, February 7.
If you witnessed this incident or have dash-cam footage please contact Crime Stoppers 1300 333 000 http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
