A 24-year-old man will face court on Wednesday after he ran from police at a border checkpoint and was subsequently arrested on Queensland's Gold Coast on Monday morning.
Police said the man bolted through the front entrance of the Gold Coast Airport after he arrived on a flight from Sydney and discovered there was a return-to-prison warrant out for his arrest.
Police were unable to confirm what matter the warrant was related to.
During the chase, the man allegedly broke into a unit on Pacific Parade in Bilinga and stole a dress shirt, jeans and a watch.
Police allege he changed into the stolen clothes in an attempt to disguise himself but was later spotted at Kirra Beach.
Officers and a police dog chased the man through beachside bushland before arresting him.
He was charged with one count of burglary and one count of obstructing police and is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court.
Border checkpoints compliance
As of Tuesday afternoon, police on the Gold Coast had turned around more than 650 people at road checkpoints and 10 people at airports since the reopening of borders on July 10.
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler reiterated the importance of compliance at border check points.
"These are big numbers and it would only take one of those people to come in and be COVID-infected and it could be a consequence for the community," Chief Superintendent Wheeler said.
Across Queensland, more than 22,000 people have been turned around at checkpoints.
Chief Superintendent Wheeler said many had either come from COVID-19 hotspots or were unable to prove they had not been in a hotspot.
