A man had his vehicle stolen after inadvertently leaving his keys at a pub in Blair Athol, Adelaide, around 12.15 am today. The thief, seen by pub staff, picked up the keys and drove off in the owner’s black Nissan X-Trail.
Fortunately, the vehicle was equipped with a tracking device, which allowed the owner to pinpoint its location. Realising his car was missing, he promptly provided police with real-time updates on its whereabouts.
The Nissan made its way into the Adelaide central business district before veering north through North Adelaide and Prospect Road. Meanwhile, police aviation unit PolAir tracked the car from above as it continued west through Woodville North and Ottoway, eventually taking a detour via the Port River Expressway, circling through Parafield and Para Vista, before descending back towards Holden Hill.
Following the tracking, PolAir directed ground officers to Vale Avenue in Holden Hill, where the vehicle was seen parked and the suspect exited. Police apprehended a 36-year-old man from Kilburn at this location.
The suspect now faces charges for the unauthorised use of a motor vehicle and careless driving, and he has been granted bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on May 2.