A Queensland police officer has been “thrown over the bonnet” of his police car while trying to stop a petrol thief on the Gold Coast overnight.
A silver Toyota Aurion with stolen Queensland plates 387 ZDO tried to drive away without paying for petrol at the United service station on Frank Street in Labrador about 11.15pm on Thursday.
The attendant ran out to try to stop the thief fleeing with the $85-worth of petrol, and officers in a passing police car noticed the commotion and pulled into the service station.
Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Thomas said the 28-year-old male constable got out and approached the driver’s window to try to remove the keys.
“The offender drove off at speed, has hit the police officer, who has been thrown over the bonnet of the police car and suffered some injuries,” Acting Senior Sergeant Thomas said.
“He suffered a broken left shoulder blade as well as cuts and abrasions and bruising to his legs, back and sides of his body.
“He’s all right, he’s at home. I spoke to him this morning, he’s with his wife recuperating.”
After hitting the officer, the thief reversed and fled west along Robert Street.
The Aurion later crashed into a parked car on Corrine Avenue in Southport, about two kilometres from the United service station.
The impact also pushed a boat at the Southport home into the garage.
Acting Senior Sergeant Thomas said investigators had identified a suspect in the case.
“We’ve got suspicions of who it is, and we’re actively looking for that male now,” he said.
“We’ve got CCTV from the service station and ironically, the male officer who was injured has dealt with this male [suspect] before.”
The injured constable was expected to recover, but would be on light duties for about three months.
Extracted from Brisbane Times