Officers from the Gympie Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) have charged two men following separate protracted investigations.
It will be alleged on 29 April, a 33-year-old Gympie man evaded police who were attempting to arrest him in relation to an outstanding warrant.
Police allege he entered a parked vehicle on Chappel Lane with a 35-year-old woman and three children inside, not known to him, before driving off with the occupants inside the vehicle.
The 33-year-old man exited the vehicle on Cooinda Street and fled on foot.
The woman and children were not physically injured.
Around 7.20pm on 1 July, specialist police located the man at a property on Noosa Road, Monkland, after he allegedly attempted to flee in a stolen Toyota Hilux, taken from a Tin Can Bay construction site on 23 April.
Police allegedly located a .22 calibre pistol and stolen property in the vehicle.
He was charged with four counts of deprivation of liberty, three counts of stealing a vehicle, two counts each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, and enter premises and commit indictable offence, and one count each of wilful damage, serious assault police officer, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in the Gympie Magistrates Court today, 3 July.
In a separate matter, police arrested a 44-year-old Gympie man in relation to a traffic crash and property offences over the past year.
It will be alleged on 23 January, the man was driving a purple Holden Commodore westbound on
Maryborough Cooloola Road when it collided with a blue Mazda CX-5 travelling eastbound.
The driver of the Mazda, a 70-year-old woman sustained a hand injury and was transported to Maryborough Hospital.
The 44-year-old man allegedly fled the scene on foot.
Police further allege the man was involved in the theft of a Nissan Navara from a Parson Road property on 12 November 2025, the theft of a Ford vehicle from Muranban Street on 23 June 2026, the theft of a Ram 1500 on 16 November 2025 from a Drummond Drive property, among other offences.
He was charged with seven counts of driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, two counts each of stealing and stealing of a vehicle, and one count each of trespass, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises and commit indictable offence, attempted stealing of a vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driver fail to remain at incident and render assistance, driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, possessing dangerous drugs and possess utensils or pipes.
He appeared in the Gympie Magistrates Court yesterday, 2 July, and was remanded in custody to reappear on 30 August.
