Two men will appear in court today charged following a car theft in Lismore on Thursday and a police pursuit yesterday.

About 6.45pm on Thursday (8 July 2021), a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-woman were inside a vehicle near a boat ramp at the Ballina Street Bridge in Lismore when two men – unknown to them – exited a white hatchback nearby and approached them.

Police will allege the men threatened the couple with knives and demanded the keys to their 2021 Subaru XV.

A short scuffle ensued between the 48-year-old man and the two men before he handed over the keys and the pair fled the scene in the Subaru; the white hatchback, driven by another man, also fled the scene.

The couple reported the incident at Lismore Police Station and an investigation into the incident commenced.

Following extensive inquiries, officers from Richmond Police District were conducting patrols of the Tabulam area when they sighted a stolen Kia Serato about 1.30pm yesterday (Friday 9 July 2021).

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle on the Bruxner Highway after the Kia allegedly tried to ram their police car. The stolen vehicle did not stop when directed, with police initiating a pursuit a short time later.

The vehicle continued east along the Bruxner Highway before road spikes were successfully deployed just outside of Casino.

The Kia stopped at a roundabout on Centre Street and three males exited the vehicle. After a short foot pursuit, officers arrested two men, while another man remains outstanding.

The two men – aged 30 and 21 - were taken to Lismore Police Station.

The younger man was charged with two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, robbery armed with an offensive weapon, take and drive conveyance without consent of the owner, possess prohibited drug, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of the owner, and never licensed person drive vehicle on road – prior offence. He was also charged in relation to an outstanding warrant.

The 30-year-old was charged with two counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic), attempt stalk/intimidate fear of harm (domestic), use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, and steal a motor vehicle. He was also charged in relation to two outstanding warrants.

Both men were refused bail and will appear at Lismore Bail Court today (Saturday 10 July 2021).

Investigations continue into the third man, and detectives from Richmond Police District will continue to target stolen motor vehicle offences within the Casino, Tabulam and surrounding areas and thank the community for their continual reporting of alleged offences.