A violent attempted car theft targeting a rideshare driver in suburban Perth has left one 15-year-old boy facing multiple serious criminal charges, with Western Australia Police still hunting for a second suspect involved in the Thursday afternoon attack.
According to official statements from WA Police, the incident unfolded when the driver picked up two young male passengers from the suburb of Balga, located in Perth’s northern corridor. As the trip progressed, the pair began threatening the driver, with the 15-year-old suspect brandishing oleoresin capsicum (OC) pepper spray during the confrontation.
The driver managed to escape the vehicle when the group stopped at a service station in the nearby suburb of Greenwood. But law enforcement alleges the teen suspect did not stop there: he followed the fleeing driver out of the car and deployed the pepper spray directly against him, leaving the driver physically affected by the chemical irritant.
After the attack, both suspects fled the scene on foot. However, police tactical and patrol units quickly established a search perimeter, and the 15-year-old was taken into custody only a short distance away in Balga, within hours of the incident.
The teen has been formally charged with four criminal offenses: aggravated armed robbery, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, criminal threats to commit an unlawful act, and administering a harmful poison. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance at the Perth Children’s Court on Saturday.
Investigations remain active, as police have not yet located the second male suspect connected to the attack. WA Police have issued a public appeal for any community members who may have witnessed the incident, or who hold private dashcam, CCTV or phone footage from the Balga and Greenwood areas on Thursday afternoon, to contact Crime Stoppers immediately with any information that could help advance the case.