The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) says the alleged use of a stolen vehicle to follow an ambulance under lights and sirens through Canberra on Saturday, 27 June 2026, has exposed a serious and unacceptable threat to police, paramedics and the broader community.
ACT Policing has reported that two men, aged 19 and 30, were arrested and charged after a stolen Ford Everest was intercepted late on Friday, 26 June 2026. Police said both men were subject to bail conditions for other alleged offences.
Police allege the stolen vehicle followed an ACT Ambulance on Gungahlin Drive while it was travelling with lights and sirens activated, including through red lights at intersections and alongside the ambulance, driving in bike lanes and on the hard shoulder.
Police also allege the vehicle tailgated the ambulance, later drove dangerously through North Canberra, Gungahlin and Belconnen suburbs, struck a police vehicle in Kaleen, and drove through locked gates at a construction site in Lawson before stopping near Ginninderra Drive.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said the alleged conduct was reckless and placed multiple lives at risk.
“Following an ambulance under lights and sirens is extraordinarily dangerous. That ambulance was responding to the community, and the ambulance officers inside it were doing their job. Any vehicle that follows an emergency services vehicle through red lights, uses bike lanes and road shoulders, and tailgates is putting emergency services workers, patients, other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
“This is the sort of behaviour that can turn into a tragedy in seconds. This is another incident that showed the danger faced by ACT Policing members when responding to stolen-vehicle offending.
“Police are the ones who have to intercept these vehicles when the risk is already high. In this case, police allege the stolen vehicle drove dangerously across multiple suburbs, struck a police vehicle, and drove through locked gates at a construction site. That is not minor offending. That is a serious public safety incident,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA believes the reported bail status of both accused men must prompt a broader discussion about repeat offending and whether the current system is adequately protecting the community.
Mr Caruana said that when people who are already subject to bail conditions are allegedly involved in further dangerous offending, the community is entitled to ask whether the current response is strong enough.
“Bail conditions need to mean something. If they do not change behaviour, then police, emergency service workers and the public are left carrying the risk.
“The incident came only days after ACT Policing reported the arrest of seven teenagers following a separate pursuit involving two stolen vehicles, where police allege an officer was driven at, and a police vehicle was struck.
“Four of the teenagers were reportedly subject to bail conditions or good behaviour obligations at the time of their arrest,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA believes that the two incidents should be viewed as another warning to the ACT Government and judiciary.
Mr Caruana said that the judiciary cannot treat these incidents as routine.
“In a matter of days, police have reported two stolen vehicle incidents involving police vehicles being struck, alleged bail breaches, and direct risks to emergency services workers and the public.
“That pattern should concern the ACT Government and every Canberran. I know it greatly concerns my members who are the victims of this behaviour.
“Every police officer, ambulance officer and emergency service worker deserves to go home safely at the end of their shift. Community safety must be at the centre of the response,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA is calling for stronger action against repeat offenders and a justice response that properly reflects the risk posed by stolen vehicles, dangerous driving, bail breaches, and threats to police and emergency service workers.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) says the alleged use of a stolen vehicle to follow an ambulance under lights and sirens through Canberra on Saturday, 27 June 2026, has exposed a serious and unacceptable threat to police, paramedics and the broader community.
ACT Policing has reported that two men, aged 19 and 30, were arrested and charged after a stolen Ford Everest was intercepted late on Friday, 26 June 2026. Police said both men were subject to bail conditions for other alleged offences.
Police allege the stolen vehicle followed an ACT Ambulance on Gungahlin Drive while it was travelling with lights and sirens activated, including through red lights at intersections and alongside the ambulance, driving in bike lanes and on the hard shoulder.
Police also allege the vehicle tailgated the ambulance, later drove dangerously through North Canberra, Gungahlin and Belconnen suburbs, struck a police vehicle in Kaleen, and drove through locked gates at a construction site in Lawson before stopping near Ginninderra Drive.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said the alleged conduct was reckless and placed multiple lives at risk.
“Following an ambulance under lights and sirens is extraordinarily dangerous. That ambulance was responding to the community, and the ambulance officers inside it were doing their job. Any vehicle that follows an emergency services vehicle through red lights, uses bike lanes and road shoulders, and tailgates is putting emergency services workers, patients, other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
“This is the sort of behaviour that can turn into a tragedy in seconds. This is another incident that showed the danger faced by ACT Policing members when responding to stolen-vehicle offending.
“Police are the ones who have to intercept these vehicles when the risk is already high. In this case, police allege the stolen vehicle drove dangerously across multiple suburbs, struck a police vehicle, and drove through locked gates at a construction site. That is not minor offending. That is a serious public safety incident,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA believes the reported bail status of both accused men must prompt a broader discussion about repeat offending and whether the current system is adequately protecting the community.
Mr Caruana said that when people who are already subject to bail conditions are allegedly involved in further dangerous offending, the community is entitled to ask whether the current response is strong enough.
“Bail conditions need to mean something. If they do not change behaviour, then police, emergency service workers and the public are left carrying the risk.
“The incident came only days after ACT Policing reported the arrest of seven teenagers following a separate pursuit involving two stolen vehicles, where police allege an officer was driven at, and a police vehicle was struck.
“Four of the teenagers were reportedly subject to bail conditions or good behaviour obligations at the time of their arrest,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA believes that the two incidents should be viewed as another warning to the ACT Government and judiciary.
Mr Caruana said that the judiciary cannot treat these incidents as routine.
“In a matter of days, police have reported two stolen vehicle incidents involving police vehicles being struck, alleged bail breaches, and direct risks to emergency services workers and the public.
“That pattern should concern the ACT Government and every Canberran. I know it greatly concerns my members who are the victims of this behaviour.
“Every police officer, ambulance officer and emergency service worker deserves to go home safely at the end of their shift. Community safety must be at the centre of the response,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA is calling for stronger action against repeat offenders and a justice response that properly reflects the risk posed by stolen vehicles, dangerous driving, bail breaches, and threats to police and emergency service workers.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
