55-Year-Old Man Allegedly Carjacked at Knifepoint Before 160km Police Pursuit

A 55-year-old man was allegedly threatened with a knife and forced to hand over his vehicle at a shopping centre on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, triggering a police pursuit that stretched for about 160 kilometres.

Two men have since been charged over the alleged carjacking, which began at Mount Coolum on Monday evening and ended after police tracked the stolen vehicle towards Ipswich.

The Car Is Taken at Knifepoint

Police allege the incident happened shortly before 6:30pm on Monday, October 5, at a shopping centre on David Low Way at Mount Coolum.

According to police, a man armed with a knife approached the 55-year-old victim and demanded the keys to his vehicle.

The alleged offender then drove away in the victim’s red Honda HR-V.

The victim was not reported to have suffered physical injuries in the incident, while police immediately began working to locate the stolen vehicle.

Police Helicopter Tracks the Stolen Vehicle

Queensland Police used POLAIR, the police helicopter, to track the vehicle as it travelled south from the Sunshine Coast.

The vehicle continued through Brisbane and towards Ipswich, with officers monitoring its movements from the air.

The pursuit covered roughly 160 kilometres before police were able to intervene.

At about 8:32pm, officers deployed a tyre-deflation device at Ebbw Vale in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

Despite the intervention, the vehicle continued towards Bundamba.

Vehicle Abandoned and Two Men Arrested

The Honda was eventually abandoned on Naomi Street in Bundamba.

Police allege the driver then fled from the vehicle on foot.

A 26-year-old man from Mount Coolum was arrested a short distance away.

A second man, a 29-year-old from Yarrabilba, was also arrested after police found him in connection with the vehicle.

Police allege the second man had been inside the vehicle when officers arrived.

Two Men Face Court

The 26-year-old Mount Coolum man has been charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was remanded in custody and was due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 6.

The 29-year-old Yarrabilba man has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was released on bail and is due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 20.

The charges are allegations, and both men are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.

Police Continue to Investigate

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery and the subsequent pursuit.

Investigators are also working to establish the circumstances involving the second man and his alleged connection to the stolen vehicle.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is being urged to contact Queensland Police.

The incident began with an alleged robbery at a busy shopping centre but ended more than 100 kilometres away after a prolonged police operation involving a helicopter and a tyre-deflation device.

Source: ABC News, October 6, 2026; Queensland Police Service, October 6, 2026; Sunshine Coast News, October 6, 2026.