This lengthy joy ride included two fuel thefts and ended in three arrests

Three young men, aged 18, 19 and 23, were captured and arrested yesterday, after a Ford Territory was stolen from the Windersun sometime on the weekend.

The vehicle was seen at the Billabong Roadhouse at 6:55 am Sunday 21st June, where fuel was stolen. Remarkably, the vehicle returned to the same roadhouse around 3pm when more fuel was stolen.

Police say they intercepted the vehicle at 3.20pm on the North West Coastal Highway near Eurady Station, but the occupants ran into the bush.

Police alerted the public via social media to avoid picking up hitchhikers, but were soon able to apprehend the vehicle occupants.

The charges laid against the men include one count of driving without a licence, 3 counts of stealing a motor vehicle, 7 counts of stealing, and two counts of trespassing.