Luke Christian Martin charged with stealing Noosaville ute, crashing in Mooloolaba

A police hunt for a Sunshine Coast chef has ended in a citizen’s arrest after he allegedly stole a ute before crashing. Here’s what happened.

A man will appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court after crashing an allegedly stolen ute into a parked car at Mooloolaba before a member of the public held him until police arrived.

A police hunt for a Sunshine Coast man has ended in a citizen’s arrest after he allegedly stole a ute in the Noosa region before hitting a parked car in Mooloolaba.

Sunshine Coast chef Luke Christian Martin, 34, had his matters mentioned in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday after he allegedly stole a white Isuzu D-max ute from the Noosaville industrial area about 5.30am on Sunday, January 7, before crashing the ute into a parked car in Kalinda Ave in Mooloolaba.

Sunshine Coast District CIB Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Duhig said a member of the public followed him into a dead-end street.

“He tried to run off and was detained by a member of the public,” he said.

The detective said there was also an alleged fight between the pair.

He said the man was wanted by police for a number of alleged stolen car and robbery offences in Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.

The man was charged with offences including three charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault causing bodily harm, traffic offences, possess knife and obstruct police.

Court documents allege the offences were committed over a three-day period between January 4 and January 7, 2024.

Mr Martin did not appear in court but was represented by solicitor Michael Robinson who asked the court to adjourn the chef’s matters to February 19, 2024.

Mr Robinson told the court the 34-year-old was on a return to prison warrant at the time of the alleged offences.

Mr Martin is expected to appear back before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 19.