🚓 Woman Charged, Man Hospitalised After Wild Wollongong Pursuit

A high-speed police pursuit that began in Blackbutt and involved two stolen vehicles, multiple alleged break-ins, and a ramming incident on Burelli Street, Wollongong, has resulted in a woman being charged and a man hospitalised under police guard.

The dramatic events unfolded yesterday, Tuesday, 4 November 2025, when officers from Lake Illawarra Police District spotted a Toyota Camry on Wattle Road, Blackbutt, displaying allegedly stolen number plates. The Lake Illawarra Police District encompasses several local areas including Dapto, Kiama, and Oak Flats, serving a broad section of the region. When the Camry failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated but soon terminated after police lost sight of the vehicle.

Just over an hour later, at approximately 9:00 am, officers from the Southern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) located a Range Rover SUV on Greene Street, Warrawong. The RES, a specialist unit of the NSW Police Force, focuses on targeting organised criminal groups and serious crime across the Southern Region. Inquiries quickly revealed the Range Rover had been stolen from Shell Cove in October 2025 and was allegedly linked to numerous break-and-enter offences across Lake Illawarra, Monaro, Sutherland, Inner West, and the ACT.

Another pursuit was initiated when the Range Rover failed to stop, but it was also terminated due to safety concerns. Shortly after, the stolen SUV was spotted on Burelli Street, Wollongong, a busy thoroughfare in the city centre known for its mix of residential and commercial properties. When RES officers attempted to intercept the vehicle, the driver allegedly rammed three nearby vehicles, including a marked police car, before fleeing the scene.

The SUV was eventually found abandoned on Cliff Road, Wollongong, a scenic stretch often associated with North Wollongong's residential and coastal areas. Police quickly established a perimeter and, with the assistance of the Dog Squad, arrested the alleged driver, a 42-year-old woman, and a 38-year-old male passenger nearby.

The woman was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she was hit with a string of charges, including police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, being carried in a conveyance taken without consent, driving with a suspended licence, and multiple counts of aggravated break and enter. She was also charged with an outstanding warrant for similar serious offences. She was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Bail Division Court today, Wednesday, 5 November 2025.

The man sustained injuries during the arrest and was transported to Wollongong Hospital, where he remains under police guard. Inquiries into the extensive string of offences are ongoing.