Cars stolen in series of ’brazen’ meth-fuelled thefts in Brisbane’s north

The owners of the cars stood helplessly, mere metres away, as the young man got in and drove off. After a long car chase, however, the driver faces prison.

Residents of Brisbane’s north have been warned to lock up after a 24-year-old homeless man drove away with not one, but two cars, that had their keys left in the ignition.

On Monday the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court heard Isiah Samuel Fisher had stumbled upon an unlocked Mitsubishi Lancer, with the keys still inside, parked in front of the 7 eleven at Zillmere at 11.40pm.

When the owner of the car came out of the convenience store, the vehicle was gone.

According to police prosecutor sergeant Shannon Bryce, Fisher drove the car to the BP at Bracken Ridge where he filled it with $40.06 worth of fuel.

Fisher attempted to make payment with a stolen and cancelled credit card, causing the operator to become suspicious of him and call the police.

The employee at the BP service station became suspicious when Fisher’s card repeatedly declined.

The confrontation was enough to scare Fisher, who abandoned the car at the service station and ran away down Telegraph Rd.

Shortly after that incident Fisher encountered an unlocked Mitsubishi Triton parked near the Fitzgibbon skatepark, with the keys still inside.

The owner of the car was chatting with friends less than 50 metres away, and watched helplessly as Fisher got in and reversed away with it.

The car remained missing until 1am on January 19 when police were conducting a routine patrol on Zillmere Rd at Zillmere.

Police spotted the stolen Triton and began to follow it as it drove through the dark suburban streets.

Fisher, who was driving the vehicle, failed to stop when police activated their lights, and again when they activated their sirens.

Rather, he sped up and headed onto Strathpine Rd, towards the highway.

Tyre deflation devices were used to stop the car.

Police cars surrounded the vehicle and ultimately deployed a tyre deflation device to stop it.

Fisher, who appeared at court from custody, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one count of evasion, one count of stealing and one count of unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon from Russo Lawyers said Fisher struggled with drug addiction following the passing of his family and “made silly choices while affected by methamphetamines”.

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Magistrate Trevor Morgan described Fisher’s crimes as “brazen” and sentenced him to 50 days imprisonment for the evasion offence, 12 months imprisonment for each unlawful use offence and three months imprisonment for the stealing and unlawful possession offences, all of which will be served concurrently.

Fisher will be eligible for parole release on March 15.