Vision from a police helicopter has captured the moment two men, allegedly responsible for a four-day crime spree across southern NSW, were apprehended in a creek at Figtree on Monday.
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The dramatic arrest of the pair – aged 24 and 26 – unfolded just after 11am, when Polair officers spotted a stolen white Holden ute travelling along Preston Street.
The ute careered across The Avenue, dodging an approaching police vehicle, before it mounted a traffic island and narrowly avoided a head-on crash with a car on the Masters Road off-ramp.
The ute struck a guardrail and continued a short distance, before two men jumped out and fled into nearby Byarong Creek.
The pair ran along the waterway and under The Avenue bridge, before surrendering as police closed in near Figgy Bowlo.
Both men were taken to Wollongong police station, where they were expected to be charged on Monday night.
Police will allege the men were involved in robberies and other offences spanning an area from Griffith to Wollongong over four days.
In one incident, on Sunday, a woman was allegedly hit in the stomach with the end of a firearm during an aggravated break and enter near Griffith. It is also alleged the men had travelled across the state’s south in different stolen cars.
About 10pm on Sunday, police attempted to stop them in a stolen Nissan Patrol ute on the Hume Motorway at Mittagong.
The vehicle did not stop, sparking a pursuit just south of Bargo. About 10.30pm, the stolen ute allegedly rammed a marked police car in Colo Vale before the two men ran into nearby bushland.
A woman also travelling in the car was arrested and has been assisting police with their inquiries.
On Monday, police were involved in pursuits with other stolen cars in Picton and Wollongong.
About 10.20am, a stolen Mitsubishi Outlander was spotted at Picton. The car mounted the kerb and ran over an electrical substation, cutting power.
Solicitor Lance Watson, who was inside Picton Courthouse, said the Outlander sped along the main street.
“One of the police officers who had been in court stepped out onto the roadway, drew his gun and pointed it at the vehicle as it was driving towards him up the street,” Mr Watson said.
“The car immediately turned into the IGA car park and we lost sight of it.”
Police were waved down in the car park. A 41-year-old woman and her parents, aged 80 and 84, were allegedly confronted and removed from their Subaru Impreza before the two men fled.
The 84-year-old man was treated for shock and taken to Bowral Hospital.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
