EXCLUSIVE: Dustin Martin’s $150,000 Range Rover was allegedly stolen by a Collingwood fan who is accused of taking it on a ‘wild crime spree’ and using it to ‘ram police’
- Dustin Martin’s car was reportedly stolen from a St Kilda petrol station last week
- Martin had lent the vehicle to one of his friends, before it was stolen
- Victoria Police retrieved the car after five hours and charged the alleged thief
- Collingwood supporter Yusuf Amir is charged over the rampage
Dustin Martin’s $150,000 car was allegedly stolen and used in a wild crime spree across Melbourne by a Collingwood supporter.
The Richmond superstar reportedly had his black Range Rover stolen last week after lending it to a friend.
On Tuesday, Collingwood fanatic Yusuf Amir, 29, of Springvale in Melbourne’s south-east, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via videolink charged over the alleged theft and escape.
Collingwood fanatic Yusuf Amir, 29, of Springvale is accused of stealing Dustin Martin’s car
Dustin Martin’s car was reportedly used in a crime spree in Melbourne last week
He has been charged alongside a 22-year old Safety Beach woman, who was bailed to appear in court on February 8.
Amir said little throughout his brief appearance but social media posts made by the alleged car thief show various profile images of him in surrounded by Collingwood graphics.
Court documents released to Daily Mail Australia allege Amir also stole a $50,000 Mazda CX9 on January 3 and received stolen number plates.
He faces 11 charges, including endangering an emergency worker.
Amir had been on bail at the time of the alleged thefts, including when police claim he stole Martin’s $150,000 vehicle on January 23.
News reports claimed Martin’s mate had reportedly stopped to fill up petrol at a service station in St Kilda last week, leaving the keys in the vehicle as he went to pay, when Amir pounced.
Having noticed the car was unlocked, Amir is understood to have jumped into the car before driving off.
The alleged theft of Martin’s car was immediately reported, with officers spotting the car about five hours later.
However, when they tried to stop it, the driver is alleged to have rammed an unmarked police car and another vehicle as he attempted to escape.
Court documents state Amir is alleged to have driven Martin’s car ‘in vicinity of an emergency worker’ and ‘intended to expose (that worker) to a risk to safety’.
Go Pies: Collingwood fanatic Yusuf Amir, 29, is accused of stealing Dustin Martin’s car
Martin’s car was reportedly stolen at a petrol station in St Kilda last week
The alleged thief managed to flee the scenes but was subsequently caught.
Amir also faces additional charges after Victoria Police allegedly found illicit drugs in the vehicle.
It is understood Martin informed Richmond of the incident and kept the club updated throughout.
The three-time Norm Smith medallist is hoping to hit the ground running for the Tigers
The superstar midfielder will be looking to hit the ground running this season after a troubled campaign last year.
The three-time Norm Smith medallist missed seven games as he took time away from the game to deal with personal issues as he struggled to cope with the death of his late father back in December 2021.
He returned in Round 8 and was instrumental as the Tigers won five of their next seven games to force their way into the top-eight, before a hamstring injury threatened to end his season prematurely.
Martin was eventually deemed fit enough to play in the finals, as the Tigers suffered a heart-breaking 16.10 (106) to 16.8 (104) loss against Brisbane at the Gabba in the elimination final.
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