Two Men Charged After Stolen SUV Pursuit Across Canberra
Two men have been charged after a stolen four-wheel drive led police on a dangerous pursuit across multiple Canberra suburbs overnight, allegedly endangering emergency workers and the public before crashing through a construction site.
The incident began on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, when a resident in Bungendore, New South Wales, briefly left their white Ford Everest running in their driveway while defrosting the vehicle’s windows. When the owner returned moments later, the vehicle had been stolen.
At approximately 11.20pm on Friday, 27 June 2026, two ACT Ambulance officers were responding to an emergency with lights and sirens activated along Gungahlin Drive when they noticed the stolen Ford Everest following closely behind.
Police allege the driver repeatedly ignored traffic signals by driving through red lights, used bike lanes and road shoulders to overtake traffic, and at one stage tailgated the ambulance while it was responding to an emergency call.
Shortly afterwards, police located the stolen vehicle in Braddon, however the driver allegedly fled, sparking a pursuit through several suburbs across North Canberra, Gungahlin and Belconnen.
During the pursuit, the Ford Everest allegedly collided with a police vehicle on Maribyrnong Avenue, Kaleen, before continuing into Lawson. There, the vehicle smashed through multiple locked gates at a construction site before eventually coming to a stop on Ginninderra Drive near Aikman Drive.
Three occupants fled the vehicle on foot after it came to a stop. Police quickly apprehended two of them, while a third person remains outstanding.
A 19-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were arrested and charged with:
- Breach of bail.
- Riding in a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Police said both men were already subject to bail conditions relating to separate alleged offending at the time of their arrest.
The pair are scheduled to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
Investigations into the identity and whereabouts of the third occupant are continuing.
ACT Policing is appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured dashcam footage of the white Ford Everest driving dangerously on Friday night to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers ACT and quote reference 8426734.
Police say any information, no matter how small, may assist investigators as enquiries continue.
Source: ACT Policing
