Dramatic arrest after tradies chase alleged car thief through Brisbane streets

A POLICE helicopter has captured a dramatic high-speed chase through the streets of Brisbane that ended when two tradies captured the alleged thief.

A POLICE helicopter has captured a dramatic high-speed chase through the streets of Brisbane that ended when two tradies captured an alleged thief on a construction site.

The drama began when two vehicles were allegedly stolen from New Farm after a property on Harcourt St was broken into on Tuesday.

The owner tracked the location of one of the cars to Wynnum West on Wednesday morning, using an app to locate his iPad in the vehicle.

Polair (the police tracking system) followed the vehicle as it was driven at speeds of more than 100km/h, running red lights through Coopers Plains before it entered the Clem 7 tunnel. It exited at Bowen Hills and continued through Brisbane’s north, before heading over the William Jolly Bridge into South Brisbane.

The car eventually crashed into several parked vehicles at Woolloongabba, trapping a 52-year-old woman inside.

The alleged driver was pursued by two tradies as he fled on foot, but he was eventually detained by construction workers who cornered him on a construction site.

Reece Brown, in the white shirt, chases the alleged thief. Picture: Polair/Queensland Police

The man tries to evade members of the public.

Reece Brown tells of catching the alleged car thief.

Another woman was allegedly assaulted as the man ran from the scene.

One of the tradies, Reece Brown, told the Nine Network's Today show he heard the crash and saw the man running.

“It is just the natural thing to do to chase after someone that runs off after a crash,” he said.

“I went to the job site and caught him trying to climb up a wall, I grabbed his leg, pulled him down and then put him in a restraint. So yeah, it was good fun for a day.”

He wasn’t nervous about what the man could have done because it didn’t cross his mind at the time.

“But now I look back, something could have happened but thankfully it didn’t.”

Mr Brown said he almost fell “flat on my face”.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done a bit of running. But you know. Once I got my composure, I was straight on him again.”

The man was finally cornered in a construction site.

The man runs onto the construction site, chased by Reece Brown.

When he finally caught up with his target there wasn’t much talking between the pair.

“Nah, I didn’t really say too much. He did mumble something. But his face was sort of in the dirt. So I didn’t really understand him.”

In a strange coincidence, one of Mr Brown’s neighbours was also involved in chasing down an offender in an incident that made national headlines last November.

Daniel McConnell, in only his undies, chased down a man who crashed into the awning of a fish and chip shop near his home. His interview after went viral after it was dubbed the “Aussiest interview” ever.

Mr Brown told Today he might have to catch up with Mr McConnell for a beer.

Police arrested the 21-year-old Murrarie man, while two women caught up in incident were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The arrested man is expected to appear in court later on Thursday facing two charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, burglary and fraud.