Alleged Mustang robbery: Andrew Thomas Hebblewhite arrested by police

An arrest has been made over an alleged dramatic gunpoint robbery on the Sunshine Coast where a man was threatened with a shotgun for his Ford Mustang at a shopping centre.

A Cairns man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a gunpoint robbery of a Mustang in Maroochydore.

Maroochydore Criminal Investigation Branch detectives raided a Beerwah property on Monday, September 26, 2022 and arrested 27-year-old Bungalow man Andrew Thomas Hebblewhite at the scene.

Police will allege the man was involved in a shotgun robbery of a grey 2017 Ford Mustang at the Homemaker Centre in Maroochydore about 5am on September 21, 2022.

Acting Detective Inspector Phil Hurst said on September 21, 2022 that three men donned masks and allegedly brandished a rifle or a shotgun and demanded the man’s car.

The Ford Mustang allegedly stolen in Maroochydore on September 21, 2022. Picture: QPS

The Mustang driver complied with the men while they allegedly escaped with his car.

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed to the Sunshine Coast Daily the Mustang was found dumped in Coolum Beach on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Mr Hebblewhite has been arrested on several charges including two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, serious assault police, robbery and other weapons offences and failing to comply with reporting obligations under the Child Protection Act.

Mr Hebblewhite has also been charged with possessing methamphetamine at the Beerwah address.

He faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 and did not apply for bail.

Defence solicitor Luke Bull had the matter adjourned to December 2, 2022, for a committal mention.

Police believe the other occupants of the car remain at large and may be armed, with the public encouraged not to approach them and immediately call triple-0.