12 January 2026

Members of public run for safety when stolen car speeds across sports field, police allege

| By Albert McKnight
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Police car

A man has faced court on several charges after his alleged involvement in a car chase. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

People were forced to run for safety when a dangerous driver sped across footpaths and a southern Canberra sports field, police allege.

ACT Policing was told a white Toyota LandCruiser was stolen from Deakin Oval on Sunday afternoon (11 January), a police spokesperson said.

They said the LandCruiser was soon found outside a home in Conder and officers saw a man get inside it before driving off.

Officers did manage to deploy tyre-deflation devices, which let down two of the car’s tyres.

The LandCruiser was then allegedly seen being driven at 150 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, narrowly avoiding hitting several vehicles and pedestrians.

The police spokesperson said officers tried to stop the car, but its driver allegedly continued driving along footpaths and a sports field, forcing members of the public to run for safety.

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The officers chased the car through Gordon before losing sight of it. It allegedly crashed into a parked car in Isabella Plains before coming to a stop in Calwell.

Its driver allegedly fled the scene and ran into the backyard of a nearby home, where police dogs found him hiding under a wooden deck.

When police searched his bag, they allegedly found what was suspected to be methylamphetamine and stolen bank cards.

The 31-year-old faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (12 January) charged with failing to stop a motor vehicle for police, dangerous driving, driving a motor vehicle without consent, unlawful possession of stolen property and driving while disqualified.

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