A man has been arrested after an hours-long standoff saw hundreds of terrified residents ordered to stay inside their homes on a Queensland street.
Police chased two men inside a blue Volkswagen Amarok in Birkdale, near Brisbane, before road spikes stopped the vehicle on Old Cleveland Road early on Saturday.
Two men fled the car, with one quickly arrested, and the other evading police for several hours and triggering an exclusion zone in the coastal suburb.
Officers from the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) tactical group told residents to stay inside their homes for their own safety with a emergency declaration made under the Public Safety Preservation Act.
Resident Kulwinder Singh said police quickly ushered him inside when he tried to check on his neighbours during the lockdown.
One of my neighbours called in a panic because they thought something was wrong, Ms Singh told the Courier Mail.
So we went to go see them but we were immediately told to get back inside by police. I opened the door and there were police cars everywhere I couldnt believe it.
Louise Pack said it was an unusual scene to wake up to.
Police chased two men inside a blue Volkswagen Amarok (pictured) in Birkdale, near Brisbane, before road spikes stopped the vehicle on Old Cleveland Road early on Saturday
Police set up an exclusion zone in the area and deployed officers from the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) tactical group (pictured)
Photos from the scene showed a huge police presence gathered at the abandoned Volkswagen
It is pretty shocking to find that is what has happened overnight - Birkdale is such a lovely neighbourhood so it is a shame to hear these things are happening, she said.
But you know this seems to be happening a lot now.
A 40-year-old Roseneath man was finally taken into custody at 5am local time.
Photos from the scene showed a huge police presence gathered at the abandoned Volkswagen, with the tires visibly damaged from the road spikes.
The car had been reported as stolen from a Northgate address on December 30.
Old Cleveland Road has since reopened and the exclusion zone has been lifted.