Share and Follow
On a Wednesday afternoon in Mudgeeraba, Perry’s instincts were on high alert as he observed a white Haval pulling up near his residence.
“I noticed three individuals exit the vehicle and sprint down the street, which seemed quite unusual,” Perry recounted to 9News.
Adding to the oddity, a police helicopter was hovering overhead at the same moment.
Without hesitation, Perry dashed inside, grabbed his phone, and immediately contacted the authorities.
While many might have chosen to stay indoors, Perry boldly ventured outside, armed with his trusty baseball bat.
“I didn’t know if they had knives or not, I didn’t know if they were armed with anything at all,” he said.
“I wanted to be between them and the car, I did not want them getting back in that car.”
Confronting the gang as they approached him, two teens fled but another wasn’t so lucky.
“He was crying, he was a mess,” Perry said.
“He’s a young kid he shouldn’t be out at night at that hour.”
Quick-thinking led Perry to flash his phone torch to get PolAir’s attention with a police car arriving on the scene “about 30 seconds later”.
The boy was immediately arrested but police are still searching for his friends.
The arrested 15-year-old will spend Easter behind bars after being remanded in custody and facing charges of stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He’s due to appear before the Southport Children’s Court later this month.
The trio are accused of stealing the car from Tegan Kelly’s Oxenford home that same day.
“You feel just defeated and empty and gross and sick and just constantly on edge,” Kelly said.
Traumatised but thankful for the help of a stranger.
“I’d say he’s definitely a hero, an absolute hero,” she added.
Perry doesn’t think so but he has earned himself a new nickname.
“One of them called me batman ’cause I had a bat in me hand but that’s about all,” he laughed.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.