Man arrested after police chase in stolen taxi across Sydney’s west

A man is behind bars accused of stealing a taxi and leading police on a chase through Sydney’s west.

A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a taxi and leading police on a chase. Picture: iStock

A man is behind bars accused of stealing a taxi and leading police on a chase through Sydney’s west.

Officers spotted a silver Toyota taxi stopped on Military Rd in Merrylands shortly before 3.30am on Sunday, prompting them to move on the vehicle.

When the vehicle failed to move on as directed, a pursuit was initiated.

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Police continued to monitor the man’s movements for 30 minutes as he drove through suburbs including Guildford, Fairfield, Yennora and Villawood before the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.

A short time later officers located the abandoned taxi on Koonoona Ave in the Villawood area.

Police conducted a search and seized a knife from the vehicle.

NED-12668-Sydney police chase

A crime scene has been established and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.

Initial inquiries revealed that the taxi was stolen on Terminal Place in Merrylands, a short time before police located the vehicle on Military Rd.

Police spoke to the taxi driver – a 58-year-old man – and were told he was allegedly threatened by an unknown man with a knife at the time of incident.

Following further inquiries, police arrested a 24-year-old man at an address in Wentworth Point just after 5.30pm on Sunday.

He was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop- drive dangerously, aggravated robbery with offensive weapon, and take drive conveyance without consent of owner.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Monday.

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