An alleged drunk veggie thief has been arrested after his stolen getaway car caught fire in front of police on the Gold Coast.
Officers spotted the stolen Ford Focus driving dangerously northbound on the M1 at Robina on Monday night, before the car started shredding debris from under the engine bay and caught alight.
The driver pulled over near the Gooding Drive exit, where he was taken into custody while officers extinguished the blaze.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a large haul of stolen vegetables including sweet potatoes, potatoes, wraps and almond milk, which police allege had been stolen from a fresh-food grocer at Robina shortly beforehand.
The Ford had also been reported stolen the Brisbane suburb of Stretton in the early hours of May 27.
A 36-year-old Chambers Flat man has since been charged with three counts of stealing, two counts of fraud and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, disqualified driving, drink driving, attaching false plates and possessing tainted property.
He was issued a notice to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court.
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