Car stolen in broad daylight near Tweed Heads, driver mounts footpath to make a getaway

Beachgoers south of the Gold Coast have been left scrambling for their lives in disbelief as a stolen car mounted the footpath narrowly missing bystanders. See the video.

A stolen car has mounted a footpath narrowly missing bystanders as the driver made their getaway south of the Gold Coast.

Liam Geale had just finished surfing at Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads about 2.00pm on Sunday and was talking to a mate when he realised his Toyota Prado was being stolen - as they spoke.

“I just heard the beep of the door, and then the engine start, and I was like, ‘that’s my car’,” Mr Geale told Nine’s Today show.

“I looked over and there was a guy in my car, and I just – yeah, instinct kicked in.”

Running back to his 4WD, Geale says he opened the driver’s door and tried to pull the offender out but he was wearing a seatbelt.

The thief sped off along Coral Street, but was boxed in by a witness in their car.

Then wild scenes unfolded, captured on video by another onlooker, showing the 4WD careening down a beachfront walkway almost hitting people.

The Prado mounted the footpath at speed, narrowly missing pedestrians and a women walking her dog.

A man with his pram is also forced to hastily retreat back down the sand onto the beach to avoid being struck by the out-of-control car.

The thief mounted the footpath at Duranbah beach near Tweed Heads. Picture: Nick Atkins

The stolen four wheel drive came within a metre of a women walking her dog. Picture: Nick Atkins

The thief had allegedly cut through a lockbox attached to the Prado to access the keys, according to Mr Geale.

“I was 2.5m away from him and couldn’t do a thing about it” he said.

“It was pretty terrifying. I’ve never felt anything like that, in my life.”

“I really wish I got my hands on him.”

Mr Geale said his iPhone was in the back seat of the Prado when it was stolen, which helped police track it to the nearby Tweed Mall where it was abandoned.

A spokeswoman for the New South Wales Police Force said the incident is being investigated by Tweed Byron Police, who have conducted forensics on the vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.