POLICE CHARGE CRIME FIGHTER
AN ONLINE crime crusader who runs multiple social media crime pages has been revealed as the alleged vigilante who chased a stolen car until it crashed at the weekend.
Sam Costanzo, 48, has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle for allegedly chasing a stolen Hyundai Sante Fe at Currajong, at “high speed” and on the wrong side of the road.
The stolen car lost control and crashed into a power pole, while Mr Costanzo’s car allegedly mounted the kerb in an attempt to box in the occupants.
The crash cut electricity to the area, and police stated Mr Costanzo’s car allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road and through stop signs during the alleged chase.
Mr Costanzo is an administrator for multiple social media crime pages, which have been set up to alert the Townsville community about incidents in their areas, and share stories about their own run-ins with crime.
He is vocal about the city’s crime issue, and has attended multiple crime forums held with Labor and LNP candidates in the last year.
At the crash scene on Saturday, police allegedly found a list of stolen cars, a police scanner and a tyre lever in Mr Costanzo’s car.
Townsville Acting District Superintendent Inspector Sean Dugger said the man’s alleged behaviour could have led to tragedy.
“It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to realise that three young offenders crashing into a power pole could have been a tragedy, and not just for the occupants of the stolen vehicle, but also for other members of the public,” he said.
“Leave the policing to the police.
“It will be alleged the man was in the area, and was actively looking for stolen vehicles, the stolen vehicle itself was acting suspiciously and had its lights off.”
Mr Costanzo ( pictured) will face court charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of a weapon and driving an unregistered vehicle, on December 2.
The incident comes months after another alleged vigilante reportedly chased a group of stolen cars, but was ganged up on, ripped from his car and bashed out the front of Kirwan Police Station.
The Townsville Bulletin delved into the vigilante underworld earlier this year, revealing the police frustration after a spate of incidents.
James Cook University criminologist Dr Mark David Chong said longstanding laws around citizens arrests may be difficult to prevent the behaviour, and authorities could only “discourage” people.