Four males have been arrested after a dramatic police pursuit on the Central Coast in which the tyres of a luxury BMW were blown out by road spikes.
The BMW 428i was allegedly stolen in Castle Hill on Sunday morning. Police said the 29-year-old owner was assaulted and sustained minor injuries despite her co-operation when threatened at knifepoint.
Four men were arrested on the Central Coast following a pursuit described as "dramatic" by police. Credit: Edwina Pickles
Late on Sunday night, the car was seen in central Newcastle and police initiated a pursuit that was quickly called off due to safety concerns. Just under an hour later, officers saw the car on the New England Highway at Hexham and started monitoring it, with aerial support.
Police tracked the car overnight to the Central Coast town of Ourimbah, where road spikes were deployed and the car was stopped at a roadblock about 1pm on Monday.
"It was quite a dramatic arrest," Hills District acting Inspector Gavin Haydon said.
"The vehicle was road spiked prior to being blocked in by a number of police vehicles. So the vehicle was travelling on its rims for some distance."
A 16-year-old, an 18-year old and two 19-year-olds have been arrested and charged.
The 18-year-old driver was charged with driving a stolen vehicle and offences related to the pursuit, including under the "Skye's Law" regime targeting high-speed pursuits. Police also executed outstanding warrants against the man for robbery and breaking and entering.
Police allege the 18-year-old and one of the 19-year olds were involved in a separate carjacking in the Newcastle suburb of Merewether on September 5.
The other 19-year-old was charged over his presence in the allegedly stolen vehicle. Five outstanding warrants for shoplifting, fraud and property offences were also executed.
The three men were taken to Wyong police station following their arrest. They were later refused bail at Newcastle Local Court.
The 16-year-old was charged over his presence in the vehicle. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at a Children’s Court later this month.
Acting Inspector Haydon said the alleged carjacking was unusual for the Hills District and the woman was "quite shaken up".
"And you could tell that she was just terrified at the time the incident happened ... She was grabbed by the hair and manhandled by the offender."
He encouraged people to co-operate when threatened in thefts and carjackings and promptly report incidents to police.
Investigators are examining the motives of the alleged offenders, including whether the car was stolen for joyriding.
The operation ultimately involved officers from at least four police districts as well as highway patrol, the dog unit and PolAir.