A man has been arrested following a chaotic police pursuit across western Sydney involving a stolen Woolworths delivery truck.
The incident began at around 5.45am in Bankstown, where a 29-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old delivery driver with a stun device. He then took control of the Woolworths truck and fled the area. Emergency services were called, and the hunt to track the vehicle began.
The truck was later seen just after 9am travelling along the Princes Highway in Rockdale. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver allegedly failed to comply, prompting officers to begin a pursuit. The situation quickly escalated as the truck made its way through Wolli Creek, where it reportedly crashed into four parked cars without stopping.
Due to the growing danger to public safety, police paused the ground pursuit, allowing the NSW Police helicopter to continue monitoring the truck from above. The stolen vehicle was tracked as it travelled onto the M8 motorway and then westbound onto the M4.
Officers later deployed road spikes on the Great Western Highway at Glenbrook. The truck hit the spikes and eventually came to a stop at Blaxland, where police moved in quickly. The arrest involved multiple police units, including the dog squad and the public order and riot team. The man was taken into custody following the use of a Taser during the arrest.
He was initially taken to Springwood Police Station and later transferred to Nepean Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries sustained during the takedown. He was released from hospital the same day. The original delivery driver, who was assaulted earlier that morning, was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.
The suspect has since been charged with a string of serious offences. These include robbery while armed with an offensive weapon, dangerous driving during a police pursuit, driving while disqualified, resisting arrest, possessing a vehicle with an incorrect identity plate, and using an offensive weapon to avoid arrest. He has been refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Penrith Local Court.
The delivery truck was being used to transport online grocery orders. Due to the incident, all deliveries were cancelled, and affected customers were issued full refunds. The vehicle was later recovered by authorities.
Woolworths, which operates the delivery service involved, has confirmed it is supporting the driver involved in the incident and is continuing to assist police with their investigations. The company has emphasised the importance of staff and contractor safety and said it remains focused on helping its team during the aftermath of the event.
The pursuit and subsequent arrest were captured from the air by police helicopter footage, which showed a coordinated effort by marked and unmarked vehicles to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. The footage also showed officers surrounding the truck, opening its doors, and pulling the suspect out onto the road before restraining him.
The situation caused significant disruption across parts of western Sydney throughout the morning, with delays and damage to vehicles in areas such as Wolli Creek, Glenbrook and Blaxland. No bystanders were reported injured during the incident, although police have reminded the public to always stay clear of active pursuits and emergency operations.
The man remains in custody, and investigations into the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
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