Eight people have been arrested after a police car was stolen from the side of the Bruce Highway in north Queensland, as police stopped two other cars they had allegedly stolen earlier in the day.
The unmarked police vehicle was unoccupied and parked on the side of the highway at Alligator Creek, south-east of Townsville, when officers deployed a tyre deflation device nearby at about 11am on Monday.
“An unknown number of offenders then gained access to the police vehicle and drove it off,” police said in a media release.
The police car was tracked through Townsville and found abandoned in the suburb of Aitkenvale about 12.30pm, with no items reported missing.
Four other cars were reported stolen on Monday and linked to the same group of offenders.
A blue Ford Ranger and a grey BMW were both found near Alligator Creek.
Later, an orange 2025 LDV T60 utility was found at Jerona, and a white 2021 MG was stopped at Shirbourne.
Locals shared videos and photos on Facebook as the police tracked the group through the rural area south of Townsville.
Police said a 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and six juveniles had been taken into custody.
Senior Townsville district officers would review the circumstances of the police vehicle theft.
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