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A Facebook Marketplace thief accused of stealing a van and a scooter has been arrested after leading police on a dramatic chase.
Nicholas Joseph Davis, 37, was intercepted by police officers outside a Bunnings in Springfield Central in Ipswich, in Brisbane's west, about 11.40am on Monday.
Police allege Davis stole a 2019 Toyota Hiace in the southern suburb of Slacks Creek after he inquired about the vehicle listed at $28,000 on Facebook Marketplace.
Davis told Mr Walia he was happy to pay the asking price if he could have a test drive and the van ran smoothly, and the pair were captured on CCTV meeting up at a petrol station at 2pm on March 30.
In the footage, Davis was seen getting into the driver's seat and taking off in the van, almost hitting Mr Walia, who was standing in front of the vehicle trying to prevent the theft.
Queensland Police were called and they discovered the allegedly stolen white van in a carpark and waited for the 37-year-old Davis to return.
Davis noticed the officers and allegedly tried to flee on foot but was arrested following a dramatic chase across busy roads.
Two weeks earlier, Davis had tried the same thing with a separate Marketplace meetup after inquiring about a 2012 Piaggio Zip 50 scooter.
Davis arrived at Kaz Miyazaki's house and asked to inspect the $3,000 scooter and take it for a test ride but allegedly never returned.
Davis texted the seller claiming he had fallen off the scooter and injured himself.
He agreed to pay for the scooter, but the promised funds never arrived in Mr Miyazaki's account.
Fortunately for Mr Miyazaki, he had taken photos of Davis' licence plate which police used to track the thief down to the carpark on Monday.
Police allegedly found stolen number plates, war medals, power tools and a machete inside the stolen white van.
The vehicle has since been taken for forensic testing.
Davis has been charged with five counts of enter premises and commit and two counts each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing.
He is due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
