SNAP DECISION DESTROYS SHOPFRONT
Teenager on the run after car crash
WOKEN by the phone at 2am yesterday with a pregnant daughter-in-law due to give birth, Owen Camera House owner Syd Owen thought he was in for some good news.
Instead, it was a police officer telling him a stolen car had just smashed through the front of his camera shop.
Speaking to The Chronicle Mr Owen was in good spirits despite the events of the preceding hours.
He said while they were still counting the cost of the damage, he estimated it to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
CCTV footage showed a stolen Toyota Kluger drifted out of its lane at 1.15am as it drove through the Neil and James St intersection, mounting the footpath and collecting the traffic control box in a shower of sparks.
The car shot between the traffic lights and a power pole, before ploughing into the business’ glass shopfront, sending camera accessories flying and coming to a rest against the display room’s back wall.
Three young men, all wearing gloves and appearing unharmed, escaped from the destroyed shop, running through the huge hole in the window and down Neil St.
Minutes later, a police handler and dog were hot on their trail.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said two 13year-old boys from Chinchilla had been located by the dog squad and were taken into custody.
A third teenage boy was still on the run at the time of going to print yesterday.
The car was stolen between June 7 and June 10 from an address in Turner St, Chinchilla.
The spokeswoman said the two 13-year-olds had been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and burglary.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444, or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au.