Man threatens mother with axe before stealing car at Rockingham Shopping Centre

A 53-year-old man has been charged after allegedly threatening a woman with an axe before stealing her car at the Rockingham Shopping Centre.

The woman was unloading her shopping into her car when the man allegedly approached her around 5.20pm on Friday, November 15.

She was allegedly threatened with the axe before the accused stole her white Holden Commodore.

The woman was with her baby at the time of the incident.

Luckily, they were not injured.

About 1.30am on Saturday, November 16, the Commodore was spotted driving recklessly on Thomas Road.

The man allegedly failed to stop for officers and a short police chase began.

Officers deployed two stinger devices before the car came to a stop along the Kwinana Freeway in Bertram.

The man was taken into custody and has since been charged with aggravated armed robbery, no authority to drive, reckless driving to escape pursuit, failing to stop.

"A 50-year-old female, who it will be alleged drove the male to Rockingham Shopping Centre and assisted him in stealing the vehicle has also been charged with one count of ‘Aggravated Armed Robbery’," a WA Police spokesperson said.

"She was stopped by police in a separate vehicle a short distance away from the shopping centre on Friday 15 November 2024 and taken into custody."

Two police vehicles were damaged during the pursuit.

Both the 53-year-old man and 50-year-old woman appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court over the weekend.