Hunt continues for man who drove off in patrol car - Sydney Morning Herald

"The car, including the equipment, is worth about 120 thousand dollars".

Police say they have not found a man who stole a fully-marked highway patrol car this afternoon in Sydney’s northwest.

Just before noon, a lone officer pulled over a car on the M7 near Dean Park, believing it to be stolen.

After a second car arrived for back-up, both officers approached the driver, who has been identified as 33-year-old Arthur Partsch.

Arthur Partsch ... sought by police for allegedly driving away in police patrol car Photo: NSW Police

Mr Partsch attacked police as they approached him, with officers unable to subdue him despite using batons and OC (capsicum) spray.

He is believed to be on drugs. The officers, who were left with soft-tissue damage, could not stop Mr Partsch as he jumped into one of the patrol cars.

He then rammed the second car, significantly damaging it, and sped away in a northerly direction. A third patrol car took chase, but the pursuit was called off for safety concerns.

Acting Superintendent Mark Cook from the Highway Patrol Command said he had seen footage of the incident, and it was raining heavily at the time.

"You don’t want to put anyone in that kind of danger, especially our officers," he said. "Enough’s enough."

The stolen car is fully-marked and turquoise blue in colour, with the call sign MD203 and the number plate BQ 12 MU.

Acting Supt Cook said the car’s technical systems, including the police radio, had been deactivated, and it was in the process of being tracked by Police Business and Technical Services. He rejected criticism on social media of the officer who left keys in the ignition.

"He was in a hurry, coming to the aid of his fellow officer," Acting Supt Cook said. "It’s all well and good for armchair critics to make a decision, but they weren’t there."

Arthur Partsch is 170 centimetres tall, of a Pacific Islander appearance. He was last seen wearing dark shorts and no T-shirt, and he has a large, distinctive tattoo on his upper left arm.

Police say anyone who spots the car should call 000 and not approach Mr Partsch, as he is considered dangerous.

"The car, including the equipment, is worth about 120 thousand dollars," Acting Supt Cook said. "So we want it back."

with AAP