The thief was finally taken into custody after paddling circles around police for nearly two hours. Photo: Instagram//Screenshot
According to reports, a man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a surfboard at Burleigh Heads, then running into the water with it and leading the police on a slow-motion chase for nearly two hours.
The incident occurred near the Burleigh Heads Surf Club on Friday. Burleigh Heads, the replacement venue for the WSL’s Gold Coast Pro that was supposed to take place at Snapper Rocks, is generally a crowded place, so the whole thing unfolded in front of more than a few onlookers.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman told reporters that a 49-year-old man stole a black and blue surfboard at about 11:55 a.m. A few minutes after nabbing the board, the man paddled out to evade capture and repeatedly refused authorities’ instructions to return to the beach. Lifeguards watched until more officers arrived on the scene, and finally, at just before 2:00 p.m., he was taken into custody. As of this reporting, no charges have been announced, nor has the man’s identity been released.
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