ACT Police have arrested and charged a 32-year-old Crace man who allegedly stole a Tesla car owned by Nick Kyrgios, after threatening the tennis star’s mother with a gun at her front door yesterday morning.
Police say the bright green vehicle, believed to be worth close to $200,000, was stolen from a Watson home at around 8.30am on Monday.
“Police received a report that a man wearing dark clothing and with his face covered had threatened a woman at the residence with a long-barrelled firearm, demanding the keys to a Tesla parked at the residence,” ACT Policing said in a statement.
Police say Mr Kyrgios used a mobile phone app to track his Tesla and was able to give officers location updates for the vehicle. He was also able to hamper the alleged thief’s getaway by placing an 80 km/h speed limit on the car via the app.
“The victim was able to provide location updates for the car, and an initial attempt to intercept the vehicle in Downer was unsuccessful. Police then engaged in a short pursuit, which was abandoned due to safety concerns for other road users.”Â
Local police along with Australian Federal Police Specialist Response officers then established a cordon in the suburb of Ainslie, where the man was arrested and the vehicle recovered at around 9.05am.Â
The man has appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court today charged with aggravated robbery, driving a stolen motor vehicle, furious driving, and fail to stop for police. Â
The court heard that the man allegedly forced the front door of the home open with his gun, demanded the keys to the Tesla and then pointed the gun towards Mrs Kyrgios and demanded she tell him how to drive it.
She reportedly escorted the man outside at gunpoint, before screaming and running back into the home after the man was inside the Tesla.
The man, who cannot be publicly named for legal reasons, was refused bail. He will reappear in court later this month.
