Armed man arrested after stolen car set alight in Sydney

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 23:01 · Archive

Police arrested a 32-year-old man in Sydney's inner west after he allegedly stole a car, set it on fire and fled.

A 32-year-old man was arrested in Burwood, Sydney on late Sunday, two days after he allegedly stole a car and set it on fire in the basement car park of a residential building in Dulwich Hill on Friday morning.

Police said the man stole the vehicle, then torched it after threatening residents who confronted him. Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze with no injuries reported. The man then fled on foot through a nearby park. Police released an image of the suspect on social media and the suburb was placed into lockdown for several hours with helicopters deployed.

Mark Swan, a resident in the building, heard loud arguments between two men and a woman and the alleged offender. 'We heard a bang, which I took to be a shotgun, and a fellow yelling, "I need a fire extinguisher",' he said. 'So I opened my kitchen window and yelled "there's a hose reel behind the wall there" but the garage had already filled up with smoke.'

The man, described as Caucasian, about 160cm tall with a thin build and shaggy hair, was charged with seven offences including possessing a shortened firearm without authority. He sustained a minor injury when initially evading capture. He is due to appear in court on Monday.

How it is being reported

• Gunman on the run arrested after stolen car torchedPolice have arrested an armed man two days after he allegedly stole a car then torched it in the car park of a residential building before fleeing on foot.Perth Now · 18 Oct, 22:42
• Gunman on the run arrested after stolen car torchedPolice have arrested an armed man two days after he allegedly stole a car then torched it in the car park of a residential building before fleeing on foot.The West Australian · 18 Oct, 22:42

In this story: Mark Swan · Burwood · Dulwich Hill · Sydney · Fire and Rescue NSW

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