Alleged car thief caught when he abandoned his vehicle after being tracked by helicopter

AN alleged car thief has been taken into custody by police when he abandoned his vehicle after being tracked by air and followed by a helicopter

• Police charge driver over serious Bees Creek crash
• Batchelor Institute records $2.7m deficit

AN alleged car thief has been taken to Tennant Creek Police Station after a suspicious station owner, who gave him petrol, followed him by helicopter.

MORE NT NEWS

The Year that Was: Entertainment hit new, unexpected highs in the Northern Territory last year

Northern Territory tarot reader predicts all things business, politics, cyclones and coronavirus

Territory tourism vouchers’ second round officially exhausted

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Len Turner said the man stole a vehicle in Darwin on Saturday, before making his way halfway across the Northern Territory.

“On January 2 a Jeep Wrangler was stolen from Darwin City,” Cmdr Turner said.

“The vehicle was then sighted in Mataranka (on Sunday) at about 8am and about 1.30pm the vehicle ran out of petrol near an outstation east of the township of Elliot.”

Cmdr Turner said the alleged thief then approached the station manager and asked for fuel.

“The manager gave the fuel but thought him to be suspicious and the man left and drove off,” he said.

“The manager used the station helicopter to follow the vehicle which became bogged.

“The station manager called police because he thought the man to be suspicious.

Police located the vehicle without the male but after some search for the male he’s been placed in custody.”

NT NEWS sizzling new deal: Get all your news for just $5 a month

The man is expected to be interviewed some time on Monday by Tennant Creek police.

Follow @zwar_w