Five arrested after stolen car dumped at Elizabeth Downs

About 7.15am on Saturday 15 March, a man was sitting in his car in a carpark on Salisbury Highway, Salisbury when he was approached by a group of youths. The youths were wearing masks and allegedly threatened him with a crowbar. Thankfully the man wasn’t injured and the youths left in a red Toyota Rav4.

Checks on the vehicle revealed that it had been stolen overnight from a Port Augusta West home.

PolAir assisted Northern District patrols search for the stolen car, and it was sighted on Heaslip Road about 7.40am.

The Rav4 wasn’t pursued but was tracked from the air as it headed north and out onto the Port Wakefield Highway through to Lower Light. PolAir followed the vehicle as it turned onto Frost Road and then Old Dublin Road heading towards the Gawler area.

PolAir continued to track the stolen vehicle through Gawler and onto Gawler-One Tree Hill Road and then Uley Road, coming back through to the northern suburbs.

About 9am, the RAV4 was abandoned on Dauntless Crescent at Elizabeth Downs after hitting a light pole and colliding with a patrol car. Thankfully no one was injured.

A group of youths ran from the car and five boys were quickly arrested.

Those arrested and charged are –

• A 13-year-old boy from Port Augusta West, charged with illegal use, aggravated robbery and breach of bail.
• A 14-year-old boy from Davenport, charged with serious criminal trespass, theft of motor vehicle, aggravated robbery and breach of bail.
• A 14-year-old boy from Port Augusta West, charged with serious criminal trespass, theft of motor vehicle, aggravated robbery and breach of bail.
• A 14-year-old boy from Elizabeth Downs, charged with illegal use, aggravated robbery serious criminal trespass and theft of motor vehicle.
• A 16-year-old boy from Craigmore charged with illegal use and aggravated robbery.

Four of the group will appear before the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday 17 March. The 14-year-old from Elizabeth Downs has been bailed to attend Elizabeth Youth Court on 2 May.