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Big Top Shopping Centre alleged carjacking: Mooloolaba man arrested by police

Police have released footage of the moment a man allegedly carjacked a woman feeding her baby during a crime spree which stretched from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast.

Alleged Sunshine Coast rampage, car theft

A Mooloolaba man who allegedly stole a car from a woman while she was feeding her baby at the Big Top Shopping Centre is in custody following an alleged rampage across the Sunshine Coast.

Police allege the 35-year-old Mooloolaba man broke into a number of Brisbane homes on Thursday September 1, 2022 and stole vehicles from Morningside, Kedron and Gordon Park.

It is further alleged by police that about 6.20am on Friday, September 2, 2022 the same man broke into a home at Minyama and stole a LandCruiser.

The LandCruiser was seen allegedly speeding on the wrong side of the Nambour Connection Rd, forcing other drivers to take evasive action.

After abandoning the LandCruiser in Woombye about 9.20am, the man then allegedly broke into a Woombye home where he was confronted by a woman.

The man allegedly grabbed her, demanded car keys and fled in another LandCruiser.

A Mooloolaba man was arrested following an alleged crime spree in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Picture: QPS
A Mooloolaba man was arrested following an alleged crime spree in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Picture: QPS

The vehicle was later abandoned at Buddina where the man allegedly entered another home and made threats to the occupants, before stealing their LandCruiser.

He allegedly drove the stolen car to the Big Top Shopping Centre in Maroochydore and approached a woman sitting in a vehicle feeding a baby.

The man allegedly ordered the woman and infant from the vehicle before he escaped the scene in the car.

Police conducted immediate patrols of the area and tracked the man through Maroochydore, Buderim and Sippy Downs area while he allegedly drove dangerously at speed, through red lights.

The stolen vehicle stopped at Sippy Downs where the alleged driver was taken into custody.

He has since been charged with 21 offences including six counts of burglary, six of unlawful use of a car, two of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and armed robbery.

He was remanded in custody in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Saturday September 3, 2022 and will appear again on November 4, 2022.

Originally published as Big Top Shopping Centre alleged carjacking: Mooloolaba man arrested by police

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/police-courts/big-top-shopping-centre-alleged-carjacking-mooloolaba-man-arrested-by-police/news-story/95294e37877e6500691e75f576f2d61e