Stolen cars seen ramming police in Townsville suburbs

Police are attempting to chase down a number of stolen cars through Townsville that are ramming police, driving at speed and causing car crashes. The dog squad has now been deployed >>

WHAT WE KNOW:

• Police are attempting to chase down a number of stolen cars through the city.
• A gold Nissan Navara, a black Range Rover, a white Volkswagen Amarok and blue Hyundai Accent have been reported stolen.
• At least one flight was diverted from Townsville Airport due to the activation of the QGAir helicopter to assist police with the stolen car pursuits.
• Report dangerous driving behaviour to police on 000.

1.15pm: CCTV has captured the moment thieves dump a stolen car and escape in another in Mundingburra as crimes of scene officers continue to hunt for the offenders. Watch the footage in the player above.

12.40pm: Two of the stolen cars have been found dumped — one in Mundingburra and the other at Cranbrook.

The Townsville Airport has returned to normal and the helicopter is no longer in use.

A Police dog is being used to track offenders who dumped a stolen ute in Mundingburra @tsv_bulletin pic.twitter.com/aoYye4PnV1

— Jacob Miley (@MileyJacob) October 21, 2019

11.55am: Gulliver man Peter Ford has spoken about the moment he was swiped by a stolen gold Nissan Navara while driving on Ferguson Street, Currajong.

READ WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

Queensland Government Air Townsville base manager Greg Huppatz said one helicopter has been tasked to assist police to track a stolen vehicle

“QGAir On a police support task assisting in the apprehension of a stolen vehicle ‘wreaking havoc’ across Townsville at the moment,” Mr Huppatz said.

“It’s more so providing eyeballs from the air and just just trying to locate it (the stolen vehicle) and call police into the location, obviously police are absolutely saturating the area on the ground.

“The vehicle is currently in Cranbrook.”

Due to an ongoing police incident across Townsville a number of flights in and out of @TSVAirport have been impacted, delays likely pls check individual airlines.

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) October 21, 2019

11.40am: A two-car crash has occurred at Ross River Road and Ann Street between a truck and a car, which has crashed into a power pole. All occupants are out of the vehicles.

11.35pm: At least one flight has been diverted from Townsville Airport due to the activation of the QGAir helicopter to assist police with the stolen car pursuits.

I’m on @VirginAustralia flight 367 from Brisbane to Townsville and got turned around just before landing due to a @QldPolice operation near the @TSVAirport .We are now diverted to Mackay #Townsville pic.twitter.com/U5HxWFttlJ

— Lewis Napa (@raroson) October 21, 2019

11.25am: A gold Nissan Navara, a black Range Rover, a white Volkswagen Amarok and blue Hyundai Accent have been reported stolen.

QGAir chopper flying over Townsville suburbs as police close in on stolen cars. pic.twitter.com/sEzThMjv1f

— Keagan Elder (@keaganelder) October 21, 2019

The Range Rover, stolen from North Ward on Sunday, was seen driving at speed through Vincent. It has since been found with the occupants reportedly attempting to pull a driver from another vehicle in the Garbutt area.

The occupants in the Nissan attempted to ram police on Adams St, Heatley. The dual cab was seen driving at speed on the wrong side of the road.

The occupants in the Volkswagen crashed the vehicle about 10.30am, a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said.

The vehicle reportedly rolled into some trees.

Originally published as Stolen cars seen ramming police in Townsville suburbs