Five teenagers are in custody after they allegedly broke into a Port Lincoln home overnight, stole a car and were eventually apprehended near Clare after a pursuit.
Just after 4.30am on Friday 11 December, a black 2014 Land Rover SUV containing up to five occupants failed to pay for petrol at a Port Lincoln service station.
Police checks revealed the Land Rover had been stolen from a Port Lincoln house a short time earlier while the home owners were asleep.
Just after 9am, the stolen Land Rover was sighted at Stirling North near Port Augusta, then a short time later the stolen SUV was seen travelling south on the Augusta Highway near Port Germein.
Police patrols attempted to stop the stolen car using road spikes near Port Pirie but the stolen car, left the road going around the spikes and continued south on the Augusta Highway.
The stolen Land Rover then headed east on the Wilkins Highway towards Gladstone.
Just after 11am PolAir spotted the stolen car from the air about 5kms south-west of Caltowie in the State’s Mid North. It was followed through Jamestown then south on the RM Williams Highway towards Spalding.
At 11.35am the stolen car travelled through Spalding south on the RM Williams Highway towards Clare. A patrol again attempted to use road spikes but the stolen car veered off the road towards the uniformed officer narrowly missing her.
At 11.45am a police patrol on the RM Williams Highway just north of Clare, successfully used road spikes puncturing two tyres.
Moments later the stolen car slowed and purposely went through a wire fence near the Clare airfield. Three of the five occupants ran from the car, but a Police Dog patrol with PD Axe onboard had been deployed to the area and located the three suspects hiding in a ditch.
An 18-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys all from Port Lincoln, plus a 15-year-old boy from Whyalla, were all arrested and charged will illegal use.
The 17-year-old boy who was driving the stolen Land Rover was also charged with driving to evade police, acts to endanger life for allegedly driving at the police officer and driving while disqualified. He has been refused police bail.
The four others are expected to be bailed to Port Lincoln Court.
Police investigations are continuing, regarding any forensic evidence left at the scene of the house break-in, with further charges possible.
