Handcuffed teen stole cop car - twice
A teen whose 12-day crime spree culminated with the theft of two police cars while he was handcuffed remained relatively expressionless as he appeared in Napier District Court by video from Hawke’s Bay Prison.
Until the end of his appearance. It was only after pleading guilty to a long list of charges that Malcolm Wallace saw fit to stand up, make the Mongrel Mob salute with both hands and yell something unintelligible.
Wallace, 19, also known as Malcolm Karauria, went on a 12-day crime spree during the level 4 Covid-19 lockdown.
It began on Wycliffe St, Napier, on the morning of April 2.
Wallace happened to walk past a property on which a man had started his Holden Commodore on his driveway.
Realising he had forgotten something in his house, the man left the car running and entered his home.
While he was inside Wallace took the car. He drove to Whitmore Park, where he created plumes of smoke and a lot of noise while using a cellphone to film himself doing burnouts.
Later that day he lost control of the stolen car on State Highway 2 near Hawke’s Bay Airport.
He crashed into metal barriers, causing significant damage to the car, but continued driving to Bayview, north of Napier, where he abandoned the vehicle.
A police dog was able to track him to an address, where he was arrested. Police found a reasonably sophisticated cannabis growing operation at the property, with 15 medium-sized plants. Wallace was charged and granted bail.
A week later, on April 9, Wallace stole a car from a house on Dinwiddie St, Napier. He later contacted the owner of the car and said he would return it for money. The owner arranged to meet Wallace at the property. He also rang police. When Wallace turned up, the police arrived.
A pursuit began. Wallace collided into a car owned by a member of the public, collided with two police cars and then sped along Kennedy Rd into oncoming traffic. Police abandoned the pursuit.
At 4.30am on April 14 Wallace drove to a Z petrol station at Taradale. He used a crowbar to open a sliding door and tried to break open a cigarette cabinet and safe, but fled after an alarm went off.
At 5.25pm that day police found Wallace in a stolen Nissan Primera at a Napier address. As police pulled up he fled at speed, driving at 120kmh in a 50kmh area. Police pursued him through suburban streets but abandoned the chase.
Wallace was observed waving his arm out the car window encouraging police to chase him.
At 11pm an off-duty police officer noticed Wallace driving the stolen car. The officer followed him to an address in Havelock North.
Police arrived and Wallace was handcuffed and put in the rear of a police car.
While the officer driving the car spoke with others to organise transport, Wallace managed to get his legs through the handcuffs, so his hands were in front of him. He climbed into the driver’s seat and locked the car doors.
The car was operated by a proximity key and the officer with the key was close enough to allow Wallace to start the car and then take off. Police pursued him through Havelock North and Hastings at speeds of up to 160kmh through 50kmh areas.
Wallace drove to Taihape, where he was eventually located and arrested.
He was handcuffed and placed in the rear of a police car again.
While the officer driving the car went to recover the road spikes, Wallace again managed to get his legs through the handcuffs. He started the police car and drove away, but was stopped by the road spikes after travelling a short distance.
Wallace appeared in Napier District Court before Judge Gordon Matenga yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including breaching the Civil Defence Emergency Act, cultivation of cannabis, possession of cannabis, careless driving, unlawfully taking cars, dangerous driving, reckless driving, escaping custody and failing to stop for police.
Wallace was remanded in custody and will appear again for sentencing in September.