Warwick man charged over ‘attacking’ 75yo with knife in string of alleged break-ins, Killarney car chase

A Warwick teen allegedly attacked an elderly man with a knife during a 12-hour crime spree that ended in a dangerous car chase on the Southern Downs.

The Mitsubishi Triton the 19-year-old allegedly stole from a Warwick address and took on a crime spree across the region. Picture: John Towells

A Warwick man has been charged over allegedly breaking into four homes in just over 12 hours, “attacking” one elderly resident with a knife, before leading police on a pursuit through Killarney in a stolen car.

Police claim the 19-year-old’s crime spree began just before 11pm on Friday, where a 55-year-old woman “disturbed” him while he was stealing a white Mitsubishi Triton from her Canning Street home.

The man then allegedly tried to force his way into an Albert Street home through its laundry, damaging the door, at about 7am on Saturday but was again interrupted by the 66-year-old woman inside.

Police will allege the 19-year-old again tried to break into a Bell Place home about an hour later, but was caught out by the 85-year-old resident and fled on foot.

The man’s alleged crime spree continued at about 9.30am that same morning, where a 31-year-old woman was woken up by his attempts to force his way inside by kicking a door.

She is believed to have seen the man flee in the white Triton ute.

The 19-year-old also allegedly stole a phone and other items from an Acacia Avenue home, later dumping the property at a house on Wantley Street.

Police claim the 19-year-old then broke into a Mt Tabor Road home and demanded cash from a 75-year-old resident, then “attacked” the elderly man with a knife before fleeing the scene in the stolen Triton.

The 75-year-old victim was transported to Warwick Hospital in a stable condition with a cut to his chin.

Police caught up with the 19-year-old in Killarney and attempted to intercept him on Ailanthus Street, but the man allegedly sped off along Willow Street and continued driving dangerously through the town.

The car chase continued until police officers used spikes to bring the ute to a stop, and the 19-year-old was arrested at the scene.

The man was charged with three counts of break and enter and one count each of attempted armed robbery, wounding, attempted break and enter, stealing, trespass, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and unlicensed driving.

He will remain in police custody until his appearance in Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday.