Nine’s Luke Bradnam has car stolen by youths after live TV cross

Gold Coast broadcaster Luke Bradnam has revealed what happened the moment he realised his car was being stolen from under his nose just after he’d finished doing a live TV cross.

• Coast mum’s vile online attack on social worker
• Man who shot Big Brother contestant makes appeal bid

GOLD COAST broadcaster Luke Bradnam says moments before his car was stolen while he was doing a live TV cross he was joking with the youths alleged to have taken it.

The popular Channel 9 weather presenter and Triple M radio host confirmed he had left the keys in and his Ford Ranger running beside him while he did the weather at 6pm on Tuesday.

It was parked up at Cavill Avenue at Tiki Village on the river side of the Gold Coast Highway - in his line of sight – where he often does the TV cross.

“Yeah the car was running,” he said. “I was doing the weather right next to my car. I didn’t even think about it. I actually do it all the time and I love the fact I live in a place where I can do that.”

Nine news weather presenter Luke Bradnam. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Mr Bradnam said moments before he did the weather some “young blokes” had been bantering with him in good-natured fashion: “I even said ‘You guys come and do the weather’ and didn’t think any more of it.

“And they are the guys who took it,” he alleged.

“I finished the weather and I’m taking out my ear piece and look over and my car is reversing up. I actually started laughing – I thought it was a mate having a goof.

“But then I could see how aggressively it was being reversed. And suddenly I realised this is someone stealing my car and he crashed into a pole.”

>>>NEVER MISS A MINUTE: DOWNLOAD THE BULLETIN APP

Mr Bradnam said he “didn’t even think” and ran in front of his car whilst yelling at his cameraman to start filming it and also started filming it on his phone.

He tried to “yank” open a door but it was locked and he could only watch as the culprit sped down the Tiki Village drive onto the Gold Coast Highway towards Southport and out of view.

“And wouldn’t you know it - I park up there all the time and always have to wait 20 minutes to get into traffic. I always have to wait. But this guy gets no traffic whatsoever.”

Mr Bradnam said the driver pulled over soon after and three youths jumped in and sped off.

Luke Bradnam praised the speedy police response to the incident. Picture: Mike Batterham.

Mr Bradnam called police immediately and praised their responsiveness, alleging: “The police were able to get footage and had these guys located on Queen Street Southport by 6.04pm.”

Mr Bradnam said the worst part about it - aside from having no car as it is yet to be located - was losing two prized ironman medals in his glovebox he had planned to frame.

He felt sorry for the alleged culprits given their age, he said: “One of them is the same age as my daughter. It breaks my heart to think this is the way they are living. I just hope they learn from it.”

His immediate priority: “Now I’ve got to go hire a car - and when I do the weather with it I will be locking it up.”

EARLIER: THREE YOUTHS CHARGED

THREE youths have been charged after allegedly stealing Gold Coast weather presenter Luke Bradnam’s around the time he went live on air on Tuesday.

Bradnam, who presents weather for Channel 9 Gold Coast, had his personal vehicle stolen from Cavill Ave at Surfers Paradise about 6pm, police said.

Channel 9 presenter Luke Bradnam.

BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

Three youths – aged 14, 15, and 17 – have since been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and unlicensed driving.

They were arrested about 11.45pm in the Surfers Paradise area.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the vehicle was seen to have reversed into a steel pole on Tuesday evening, and continued driving.

The car is yet to be found.