In a dramatic peak-hour confrontation, a group of courageous tradies intervened to stop a shirtless man who allegedly went on a destructive rampage, smashing into multiple vehicles and attempting to carjack two others in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon along Auburn Road, bringing traffic to a standstill as the chaotic scene played out before stunned witnesses.
Chaotic Peak-Hour Carnage on Auburn Road
The 50-year-old man from Capel Sound on the Mornington Peninsula allegedly lost control of his Jeep at approximately 5:30 PM during the busy evening commute. In a reckless sequence of events, he crashed into four separate vehicles, causing significant damage to his own car and the others involved. With his vehicle rendered inoperable, the suspect then attempted to flee the scene by targeting two additional drivers in what police would later describe as attempted carjackings.
Violent Confrontation with Multiple Victims
According to witness accounts and police reports, the shirtless man first approached a male driver, allegedly assaulting him while trying to seize his car keys. When that attempt failed, he turned his attention to a female motorist, aggressively trying to pull her from her vehicle while shouting abuse. Witness George Allen described the tense moment to reporters, noting the immediate danger the woman faced.
"When I saw him reach into this poor lady's car, I was like, well someone's got to stop him," Mr. Allen recounted. "He was obviously trying to grab her keys or open her door. I could hear him yelling abuse at her, and her yelling something back."
Citizen's Arrest by Quick-Thinking Tradies
Before the situation could escalate further, several local tradesmen who had witnessed the alarming events sprang into action. Disregarding their own safety, they rushed to subdue the alleged carjacker, taking him to the ground in the middle of the street. One of the tradies, who had been working from a utility vehicle, retrieved a rope and used it to restrain the man while they awaited police arrival.
Mr. Allen praised the four men's decisive response, highlighting the potential risks they faced given the suspect's violent behavior. "I know lots of people are worried these days about confronting people in situations like that. They might be worried about getting attacked themselves or the guy might have had a weapon, so I was impressed that there were people willing to stand up to him," he said.
Police Intervention and Criminal Charges
Law enforcement officers arrived shortly after the citizen's arrest had been effected. The suspect was transported to hospital under police guard for assessment before being formally charged with multiple serious offenses. These include:
- Attempted carjacking
- Attempted robbery
- Reckless conduct endangering life
The 50-year-old man has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court next week to face these allegations. The incident has sparked discussions about public safety during peak traffic periods and the role of citizen intervention in emergency situations.
While police investigations continue, the quick actions of the Hawthorn tradies have been widely commended for preventing further potential harm to motorists and pedestrians in the busy suburban area. The damaged vehicles have been removed from the scene, and Auburn Road has returned to normal traffic flow following the disruptive events.
