Police have apprehended a man in Cordeaux Heights following a car theft and bungled home invasion.
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It's believed the man was trying to hide from police after a van was stolen Thursday afternoon.
In doing so he asked Taminga Crescent resident John Balzan to call him a taxi.
But Mr Balzan "sensed something wasn't right" after hearing choppers above and called police instead.
"When John was calling the cops the man was trying to break in the house through one of the windows," wife Lani Balzan said.
"He seemed off his face. I just told the kids to move away from the windows. This is not what I expected during lockdown."
Wollongong Police District's Acting Inspector Cheryl Dunlop said at 10.50am on Thursday, a motor vehicle was stolen from a business premises in Albion Park.
At 2.13pm, the motor vehicle was sighted in Berkeley.
Police began a pursuit, and the vehicle was followed through a number of streets in Berkeley, then proceeded to Unanderra, where the driver allegedly ran a number of red lights.
Police also allege that while on the Princes Highway, the vehicle travelled at speeds of 140km/hour in a 60km/hour zone.
At the intersection of Cordeaux Road, Unanderra, police terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, police received multiple calls from members of the public, saying a vehicle had been dumped in Cordeaux Heights, with two males being seen running from the vehicle.
PolAir and the Police Dog Unit assisted police efforts, with a male later located in Cordeaux Heights. He was arrested.
A short time later, two other males were located hiding in bushland in Cordeaux Heights.
They were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
One was charged with being carried in a conveyance without consent of the owner.
A second man was also charged with being carried in a conveyance without consent of the owner, and was also found to have an outstanding warrant.
A third man has been charged with break and enter.
According to police, as of Thursday night, the dates of their court appearances had yet to be determined as the men were still in custody.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
