A man will appear in court today after a pursuit, and a replica firearm was located, in Sydney's south-west yesterday.
About 9.10am (Tuesday 23 November 2021), officers attached to Bankstown Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop the driver of a Mitsubishi Lancer on Macauley Avenue, Bankstown after checks revealed the vehicle had allegedly been stolen.
The driver allegedly failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated. It was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
The vehicle was then seen to enter a retail complex on Chapel Road South, where the driver ran from the car.
Additional police attended the complex, and with assistance from members of the public, the driver – a 22-year-old man – was located hiding in a bathroom nearby.
Police arrested the man, before searching him and allegedly locating a replica pistol.
The man was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with seven offences including:
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
- Drive while licence application refused
- Use unregistered registerable class A motor vehicle on road
- Use uninsured motor vehicle
- Possess unauthorised pistol
Checks revealed that the vehicle had allegedly been stolen from a Warwick Farm address on Sunday 31 October 2021.
The man was refused bail and will appear at Bankstown Local Court today (Wednesday 24 November 2021).
