A man has been charged after he allegedly stole a case of beer causing a police pursuit spanning 170km across southern NSW yesterday.

About 6.30pm Sunday 27 November, a man entered a grocery store on East Street at Murrumbateman, and allegedly stole the beer before leaving in a Mercedes C180 Coupe.

Police were notified, and a short time later, officers attached to The Hume Highway Patrol observed the vehicle travelling south on the Hume Highway, Yass.

Officers signalled for the driver to stop, however, he failed to do so, and initiated a pursuit which lasted around 170km.

The vehicle was stopped on Docker Street at Wagga after the man allegedly failed to pay for fuel at a nearby service station, and the driver was arrested.

The 55-year-old man allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test.

He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was subject to a secondary breath analysis reading, allegedly returning a reading of 0.040.

He was charged with eight offences:

• Shoplifting,
• Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly,
• Not stop vehicle when directed to do so,
• Negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm),
• Class A motor vehicle exceed speed,
• Driver consume alcohol while driving,
• Dishonestly obtain property by deception, and
• Licence expired less than 2 years before – first offence.

The man was refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court today 28 November.

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