A 36-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a car at knifepoint, injuring a passer-by and leading police on a pursuit through Sydney’s west with two children inside the vehicle.
The incident began on Saturday afternoon when officers were called to Moreton Street in Lakemba, about half an hour south-west of Sydney’s CBD, to conduct a welfare check on the man.
Police later spotted him driving along Lakemba Street and attempted to pull him over. When he allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was launched through Belmore and Belfield.
The pursuit was abandoned because of the man’s erratic driving. Police allege that, a short time later, he crashed into a hatchback in nearby Lidcombe.
He is then accused of entering the vehicle while two children were inside and threatening the female driver with a knife, forcing her out. A 25-year-old passer-by was allegedly injured when he stopped to help and tried to remove the car keys.
The man allegedly escaped in the woman’s vehicle and drove west along the M4 before stopping on the Cumberland Highway. He left the car and was restrained by an off-duty police officer and members of the public.
He was arrested and taken to hospital under police guard, where he remained on Sunday afternoon. He was expected to appear in court that day charged with dangerous driving, armed robbery and reckless wounding.
The two children were taken to hospital as a precaution and treated for minor injuries.
