Man to be charged after allegedly stealing Wagga florist’s car

Wagga Police Inspector Adrian Telfer said that once the man is released from Victorian Police custody, it is the NSW Police Force’s intention to charge him with the following offences:

Earlier: A Wagga florist’s car has been recovered 400 kilometres from where it was stolen with the assistance of businesses and members of the public.

Police spotted the stolen Toyota corolla near Harrietville around 1pm and half an hour later it was found crashed on Dargo Road, about 200 metres from the intersection with the Great Alpine Road, leading to the Hotham Alpine Resort.

The driver fled on foot and after a search assisted by Wangaratta, Myrtleford and Bright police members, was arrested.

He is currently in custody with charges expected to be laid.

Earlier: A car stolen from a business in Wagga has been involved in a petrol drive-off in Wangaratta this morning.

At about 10am a silver Toyota corolla bearing NSW plates and sign writing reading “Freckles Flowers” pulled into APCO Wangaratta on Roy Street.

Manager Brett Anderson said the male driver allegedly filled up the corolla and drove off without paying.

“He was barefoot and had a hoodie on, and you can see on the CCTV footage he seems very agitated,” he said. 

“The fuel came to $55, enough to fill the car.

“The car is a business car, it was stolen from Wagga, and had Freckles Flowers written all over it.

“We rang the owner to check if it was stolen and she said she got to work about 9.40am and it was gone.

“Then I rang the police, they came to speak to us, and hopefully they’ll catch him.”

Freckles Flowers, a business on Morgan Street in Wagga, declined to comment.