A 21-year-old man was held at knifepoint during a carjacking at the North Haven Shopping Centre in Adelaide overnight before three teens fled with his vehicle.
Victim Deklan Norton said he was ambushed by the trio just after 7pm at the centre on Osborne Street and gave up his car so he did not get stabbed.
“Guys started running at my car, tried to yank the door open, I tried to hold it closed but the trim came apart,” Mr Norton said.
“He managed to get the door open, told me to get out of the car, dropped the keys and he had a knife, I complied, dropped the keys.”
At about 11.30pm, officers spotted the stolen Mitsubishi Lancer travelling north on Morphett Road at Novar Gardens when they began their pursuit.
The chase finally came to a grinding halt when the car’s tyres were spiked on South Road at West Hindmarsh, bringing to an end an almost five-hour-long ordeal.
Heavily armed police surrounded a 17-year-old and 15-year-old, who were each arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. The third suspect managed to escape, and is still on the run.
The driver of the stolen vehicle was charged with dangerous driving to escape police pursuit.
Both the teens were refused bail and set to appear before the Adelaide Youth Court.