Police searching for couple alleged to have sneaked into SA from Qld in stolen HiLux
A couple that busted across the Queensland border in an allegedly stolen car are being hunted by police around Port Augusta. Meanwhile, two men have faced court for allegedly illegally entering SA from Victoria.
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Police are looking for a wanted man and woman who snuck into South Australia from Queensland on Monday in a stolen car.
They were last seen near Port Augusta, where a car matching the description of their stolen ute was seen driving on the wrong side of the highway.
Alex Blake and a woman, believed to be from Queensland and in possession of a firearm, crossed the SA border on Monday, evading the checkpoint.
The car they were travelling, a white Toyota HiLux ute was seen with unassigned number plates, S632BY, and was reported stolen from Queensland on Sunday.
The car was involved in a petrol drive-off at Innamincka, near the Queensland border around 3pm on Monday. Police say the car sped towards a man in the town.
The pair were again spotted in the stolen vehicle at Hawker, in the Flinders Rangers, where they allegedly filled up their tank of petrol again without paying at a local service station.
Blake is described as being caucasian, aged in his early 30s with a medium build. He was last seen wearing an orange and blue high-vis long sleeved top, dark blue pants and a baseball cap. The woman is described as having shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a black short-sleeve tshirt.
A local spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the allegedly stolen car travelling on the wrong side of the road near Port Augusta. Police are stationed on the Horrocks Highway and surrounds in search of the vehicle
Blake is wanted for questioning as a suspect for an assault and stabbing incident at Ooralea, near Mackay on August 8, a Queensland police spokesman said. The woman he is accompanied with is wanted for questioning for the same incident.
Anyone who has information about the stolen car or its occupants is urged to contact police on 131 444.
Meanwhile, two men have faced court charged with breaching COVID-19 directions after allegedly entering South Australia through back roads without permission from Victoria on Monday.
The men, driving a white Renault van with SA registration plates, attempted to enter the state at the Yamba checkpoint but were refused by police around 10.45am Monday. The occupants of the vehicle, a 36-year-old and a 24-year-old were arrested at a Mawson Lakes address where they were charged with breaching a COVID-19 direction.
Appearing in Adelaide Magistrates Court today, Liam Sean Harrington, 25, from Broadview, was wearing a face mask when he appeared by video-link.
In an application for bail, a duty solicitor said the pair had travelled to Victoria together in June for work.
Christopher Michael Torkington, 36, who funded the trip, is a subcontractor for a roller shutter company and Harrington had gone to assist, but the lockdown was imposed shortly after their arrival.
The court heard they attempted to lawfully return to South Australia but their application was denied by SA Health.
Harrington’s parents, who were in court, offered a $2000 cash surety to secure his release.
However, Magistrate David McLeod said the alleged offending was serious and Harrington is at high risk of reoffending.
“I also note that two warrants for Mr Harrington’s apprehension are current and that he failed to attend court on previous occasions,” he said.
Police prosectors said Torkington flouted clear laws about border directions and bail would not be appropriate.
Defence for Torkington, Vanessa Cream, said her client intended to isolate at his home address in Mawson Lakes, and applied for bail at his address or in a hotel.
“The court can have confidence he would comply with bail conditions,” Ms Cream said.
Magistrate McLeod refused Torkington’s bail on the basis of the seriousness of the offending.
“The fact of the matter is by the sound of it he's deliberately not complied with a specific direction to protect the community … and does not make him worthy as a candidate of bail.”
Harrington was also refused bail. Both men will reappear in court in two weeks.