The owner of a petrol station near Toowoomba who was hit by a driver allegedly stealing fuel has recalled holding on "for dear life" as the stolen car sped down the street while he clung to the bonnet.
Clint Weber noticed a customer fuelling up at his station at Gowrie Junction, north of Toowoomba, on Wednesday morning.
He recognised the driver as the same person who had allegedly driven off without paying for fuel the previous week.
"So I decided at that stage it was more than likely that they were going to drive off and I should toddle out the front and have a chat to them and see what was going on," he said.
"And of course, they finished fuelling up, old mate went around and jumped in the passenger seat and I'm sort of indicating you need to pay and they've got the car started.
"I'm sort of thinking 'Well you know you've taken the fuel, I've done my bit, you do yours and duck in and pay'.
"Anyway he just floored it and I ended up on the bonnet."
Mr Weber clung to the bonnet of the car for a short distance.
"At that point it was a case of hold on for dear life and then he sort of straightened up and proceeded to cross the front of the shop at speed through the car park area and footpath," he said.
"He started weaving and braking heavily ... I think his idea was he was going to shake me off but that just made me hang on even harder."
Eventually the car stopped and Mr Weber was able to roll off before the driver escaped.
Acting Detective Inspector Jason Kitto alleged the car had been stolen last week from a Toowoomba address.
"We believe those responsible for the offence yesterday at the Gowrie Road Station were also responsible for a number of other offences committed in the Darling Downs district," he said.
"We are currently looking for known persons in relation to those offences."
Detective Inspector Kitto urged residents not to put themselves in harm's way and contact police if they came across an incident.
"Obviously he has been collected by that vehicle … he could have ended up a lot worse than he is," he said.
Mr Weber said he was grateful to escape with minor injuries.
"Didn't enter my mind he'd just drive through me," he said.
"I've got some bark off me hands, me fingers hanging on, my hands are a bit sore and that kind of business."
He said he acted because he was fed up with increasing fuel drive-offs in the area.
"It certainly, in more recent times, has been a more common occurrence," he said.
"Which probably prompted the idea to go out and confront these guys because you reach a point whereby the fuel operation becomes uneconomical because these guys drive off with so much fuel.
"You just reach a point where you can't take anymore."
