MELBOURNE, VIC. — Police have arrested a man and recovered a tradesman’s Toyota van, stolen mid-job, in Melbourne’s southern suburbs in the early hours this morning.
The tradesman had turned his back on his van, engine running with flashing lights on, near the intersection of Toorak and Punt roads about 3.15am.
It is alleged an opportunistic thief jumped in the driver’s seat and took off towards Domain Road.
Police units in the neighbourhood quickly responded, and the van was spotted allegedly driving through red lights on St Kilda Road.
The van continued travelling south.
Officers successfully deployed a tyre deflation device on Dendy Street, Brighton East.
The van came to a complete stop on Ormond Esplanade. Police moved in.
A 30-year-old Kings Park man, alleged to be the driver, was arrested at the scene without further incident.
He will be interviewed by investigators today.
