Monday, 9 April 2012

Getaway In Brisbane: Car Lovers Go Too Far


Sometimes, don’t you just love the news? Yesterday three men were arrested after a high speed pursuit through the streets of Brisbane. The men stole a white BMW X5 in Inala, on the southern outskirts of the city, and continued their reckless chase for two hours, traversing the entire city before retreating into an underground carpark at the Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre.

Another car was stolen and was also involved in the chase for some length of time, however the second car, a black BMW sedan, was pulled over and the occupants apprehended by police at Durack as the X5 continued on.

The least surprising thing about it is the fact that it started in Inala, which is an area with a possibly unfair reputation as being full of criminals. Although, admittedly, this latest incident would probably count as evidence for that particular argument. It’s one of those places that people make jokes about. Like, “How do you get a family portrait in Inala? You load up in the car and you run a red light.” I don’t go to Inala very often, so I’m loath to comment on the veracity of that idea but, suffice it to say, there are places I’d rather be.

And, apparently, the same can be said for the 3 men arrested at the Mount Ommaney Coles.

Still, you’ve got to admire their persistence. At some point, when they realised they were being followed by police, they had to know that they were probably going to be arrested. Rather than pull over at that point, however, they continued on for over an hour, just touring the streets until they could find a place to ditch the car without being seen. They toured as far north as Chermside and did a scenic tour of St Lucia, with its winding, tree lined streets and views of the city and river. By this time the police were no longer in close pursuit, instead following the action using Channel Nine’s news chopper, which caught almost the entire event on film.

Right up to the end, they maintained the amazing belief that they could still get away, and it’s possible they might have done just that if police didn’t have sniffer-dogs and video surveillance. But they do. Actually, they’ve had both of those things for a while now. Tazers too.

Remember, I said I admired their persistence, not the think-tank that devised this brilliant scheme.

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