news, latest-news,

A large-scale police manhunt is under way after a daylight car-jacking at Figtree on Tuesday morning. Wollongong police were contacted just before 10am following reports a man had been carjacked on St George Avenue, near Bellevue Road. Police have been told the man was approached by another man, who was armed with a handgun and made threats before stealing a silver Range Rover. Wollongong police officers began a large-scale search, assisted by highway patrol officers and PolAir. Read more: Illawarra authorities issue health alert after spike in measles cases The Range Rover was found unattended in the grassed area between Derby and Rhondda streets in Berkeley about 11am. The car has been seized and will undergo an extensive forensic examination. An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police have appealing for the public's help to locate the man. He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early 40s, about 182cm tall, with a chubby build, short brown hair, and unshaven. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a grey jumper and a black baseball cap. Police have urged anyone who may know the man, or who has information about his whereabouts, to contact Wollongong detectives on 4226 7899 or Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000. Members of the public have been warned not to approach the man if they see him and instead contact triple zero. Resident, and mother of two, Emily Robinson said she didn't see or hear the carjacking unfold, but arrived home to find a number of police in her typically-quiet street. "There was about six police vans and they [the officers] all had bulletproof vests on," the 31-year-old told the Mercury. "They were fingerprinting the gate [of a house]." Ms Robinson described the carjacking, which took place not far from Figtree Heights Public School, as "pretty scary". "I was only out for an hour. I just came out and put the kids [aged one and two] in the car and left, and it happened in that hour, so I'm glad it wasn't us," she said. The Mercury understands the carjacker and the victim were possibly known to each other. It is unclear whether the vehicle was carjacked as it travelled along the suburban street or in the driveway of a home. Read more: Shock death of Kiama Power stalwart devastates AFL South Coast community

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/yKyzS5MkFCYtCA2z8EAGJL/f8b7b38e-730f-4fa7-8a36-53d43f1896d6.jpg/r0_368_5472_3460_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg