In between there was a man armed with a knife borrowed from a butcher, another with a hacksaw, and a police pursuit from Luddenham to Prospect.

It started at a petrol station on Fifteenth Avenue in Austral where a 51-year-old man was being escorted by two men, one who lived nearby and his friend.

The 51-year-old, who was accused of having stolen property, appeared cool and calm before he suddenly bolted through a car park.

The chase did not last long and eventually the 51-year-old was ushered into a Mitre 10.

But he again broke free and allegedly armed himself with a hacksaw, injuring two staff members and slicing the ear of the man who had been ushering him.

The local man then rushed to a nearby butcher and asked for a knife, being shown two options before he grabbed one and raced back.

But by the time he had returned the 51-year-old had taken off again.

He allegedly stole a truck from Mitre 10 and rammed a staff member as he made his escape.

Unbeknownst to him, the vehicle had a tracker in it and Mitre 10 staff watched his every move.

Police were informed and eventually tracked him from Luddenham to Emu Plains.

The man eventually became trapped in peak-hour traffic on the M4 at Prospect, where he was arrested.