A man has been charged following a series of alleged armed robberies overnight which culminated in a standoff with police at a Southport service station.
It will be alleged at around 7.45pm a man armed with a firearm threatened a male taxi driver and forced him to drive to a service station located on Ferry Road.
The man allegedly struck a glass door of the business with the firearm, causing it to shatter before threatening a console operator who handed him a sum of cash from the till.
He then demanded the keys to a Holden Astra and fled the scene in the vehicle.
It is further alleged the man drove about 500 metres south to a different service station on Ferry Road where he stole another car at gunpoint, a Kia Sportage.
The vehicle was spotted by POLAIR1 a short time later and tracked as the man allegedly stole a third car at the intersection of Wardoo and Johnston Streets by threatening the four occupants with his firearm.
A tyre deflation device was successfully deployed by police on the vehicle as it travelled along Nerang Street in Southport.
A man quickly exited the damaged car and ran to another service station nearby where he allegedly threatened a console operator with the firearm as well as attending officers.
The console operator fled the premises while police established a secure cordon around the service station.
An emergency declaration was made under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) at 8.36pm while negotiators and specialist police attended the scene.
Successful negotiations resulted in the man being taken into custody without further incident at midnight. The PSPA declaration was revoked a short time later.
A 29-year-old man has since been charged with 15 offences including five counts of armed robbery, three counts each of wilful damage and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of serious assault police whilst armed, and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle with prior conviction and unlawful possession of a weapon.
He is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court this morning (August 17).
Investigations are continuing.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
