Two arrested over clothing store break-in at Gawler, South Australia

Two men have been arrested after a stolen vehicle used in a Gawler break-in this morning was later dumped and torched at Andrews Farm.

About 3.15am on Wednesday 28 November, police were called to Murray Street, Gawler after two men allegedly used an axe to smash the front glass window of a clothing shop. The suspects stolen thousands of dollars of clothing before leaving the scene in a blue Hyundai heading east on Tod Street.

Later that morning, just before 9am, police received a report of a vehicle on fire on Davoren Road at Andrews Farm. Members of the public reported seeing two men attempting to flee the area.

Officers discovered that the damaged vehicle was the blue Hyundai seen at the break-in at Gawler earlier in the morning. Checks on the Hyundai revealed that it had been stolen from a Smithfield address overnight on 25 November.

Attending patrols quickly arrested one suspect, a 24-year-old man from Elizabeth Downs.

Gawler and Northern District Police set up cordons in the area, assisted by the police helicopter (PolAir) and dog operations PD Ben, to assist in the search for the second suspect.

About two hours later, the second suspect, a 33-year-old Evanston Gardens man, was spotted coming out of the reeds of a nearby lake and was arrested by awaiting patrols.

Both men will be charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, theft and illegal use. They are expected to be refused bail and appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Investigations are continuing.

/Public Release. View in full here.