Shattered glass covers the ground at a jewellery store in Joondalup on Friday.
Camera IconShattered glass covers the ground at a jewellery store in Joondalup on Friday. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Alleged jewel thief tasered

Mark Donaldson, Joondalup TimesWanneroo Times

Police said the 35-year-old Joondalup man was on bail from a previous jewellery theft charge when he allegedly broke into the shopping centre and smashed his way into a luxury jewellers about 1am on January 3.

Once inside, it is alleged he shattered a number of cabinets before a security guard chased him from the store.

Acting Senior-Senior Sergeant Brad Pinch said the man had previously been charged over a break-in at the same jewellery outlet on October 5.

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In Friday’s incident, police allege he stole about $13,000 worth of jewellery, but in the October incident, he was alleged to have stolen more than $200,000 worth of jewellery.

Joondalup Police officer-in-charge Senior-Sergeant Craig Wanstall, whose officers arrested the man, said tasers were needed after the man allegedly became violent with the crowbar. He had been hiding in bushes near the shopping centre.

‘He’s come at the police car with the crow bar,’ he said.

‘He raised the metal crowbar above his head and threatened to hit the police officers.’

The police constables had earlier pulled their firearms in an attempt to quell the man’s actions.

He was charged with burglary, stealing, three charges of assaulting a public officer and breach of bail.

Sgt Wanstall said the stealing charge could be upgraded to armed robbery pending further investigation. The accused appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday and is expected to reappear on September 29.