Charges laid after alleged burglary and large scale manhunt

Police have charged a man after an alleged burglary which led to a man hunt through the coastal scrub on Phillip Island.

Police helicopter over Cape Woolamai July 5 2023.

A man has been charged after an alleged burglary in Cowes on Wednesday where two cars were stolen, one being a luxury Porsche.

Police responded to an alleged burglary which had occurred at a home on Red Rocks Rd Cowes, where a silver Porsche 211 and a black Volkswagen Golf were stolen.

At approximately 1:00pm, police saw the silver Porsche in the Cape Woolamai area on Phillip Island Rd.

It is alleged that the silver Porsche drove erratically to avoid police, and was involved in a minor collision with a civilian vehicle at the roundabout on Phillip Island Rd and Woolamai Beach Rd.

A police helicopter was called in and was able to find abandoned Porsche on Princeton Ave.

The pair were first spotted in Cowes, driving an allegedly stolen Porsche and then tracked to Cape Woolamai where they dumped the vehicle.

Shortly after, the helicopter spotted the two alleged offenders, a 37-year-old man and a 18-year-old man who were both from Phillip Island, attempting to hide in the coastal scrubland of Woolamai Park.

Once spotted the men allegedly began running along the foreshore, scaling the cliffs and dunes and running along the sand to try and avoid police.

The pair were first spotted in Cowes, driving an allegedly stolen Porsche and then tracked to Cape Woolamai where they dumped the vehicle.

The helicopter was able to chase the alleged offenders into the hands of uniform police and detectives waiting on the ground who were able to arrest the pair near the Colonnades in Cape Woolamai.

After the arrest of the alleged offenders, the black Volkswagen Golf was located by police in Redwood Drive Cowes.

The 18-year-old male has been released, pending further enquires.

The 37-year-old male has been charged with offences including Handle Stolen Goods, Theft Of Motor Vehicle, Reckless Conduct Endanger Life and Driving Whilst Unlicensed.

He has been bailed to appear at Korumburra Magistrates Court later this year.

The investigation into the burglary remains ongoing.

Local police are also appealing for the driver of the vehicle that the silver Porsche collided with at the intersection of Phillip Island Rd and Woolamai Beach Rd to make contact with police.

If you have any information regarding this incident, including any Dash-Cam footage, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.