Burglar’s car wash cleanout

A CAR wash burglar who hit four Geelong outlets has been foiled from making a clean getaway.

The lone crook fled from police in a silver Nissan Pulsar and was last seen travelling at high speed on Cox Rd in Norlane about 1.30am.

But police say they have identified the offender, an 18year-old man from the west of Melbourne, and hoped to make an arrest in coming days.

Senior Constable Brad Johnston said the teenager’s busy night began shortly before midnight when he struck the Pitstop 24-hour Car Wash on The Boulevard in Norlane where he made off with about $250 in cash.

At 1am he had used a crow bar to smash his way into a coin machine at Wizard Car Wash on High St in Belmont.

A short time later the man was caught on CCTV at a Newcomb car wash.

“Police decided to sit off near the (Wizard) car wash at the intersection of Ballarat Rd and Anakie Rd in Bell Park,” Sen-Constable Johnston said.

“The car was spotted and a short pursuit followed.”

The pursuit was called off when the car exceeded 100km/h in a 70km/h zone.

Sen-Constable Johnston said police were now working with all four car wash victims to obtain CCTV and calculate the amount stolen.

“It appears he’s only made off with a few hundred dollars, but the damage would total into the thousands.”

Police are also investigating an unrelated attempted theft at Splash Car Wash at Ocean Grove about 4am on Sunday.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.