Woolworths worker 'held up at gunpoint' before delivery truck taken on joyride
The supermarket giant described the incident as 'frightening'.
A Woolworths delivery driver has allegedly been held up at gunpoint in a terrifying encounter at a store in Perth's southeast.
WA Police says the worker was approached shortly after 5am on Saturday by a 26-year-old man armed with a gun before stealing the driver's truck in the Thornlie Square store's car park.
Less than an hour the vehicle was spotted by police, however the man allegedly failed to stop.
Vision obtained by Nine News shows the truck pursued by several police vehicles as it fails to stop. Police say the vehicle was eventually pulled over in Greenfields where the man was arrested.
He is alleged to have threatened two other people with the gun during the joyride prior to police pulling him over.
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The man is now facing nine charges including aggravated armed robbery and stealing a motor vehicle and driving recklessly. He is due to attend court on Sunday.
A Woolworths spokesperson described the incident to Nine News as "frightening" and said the company was "very grateful" the driver is safe, offering him support through the ordeal.
Calls for better security to protect workers
The alleged incident comes amid growing calls for increased security at the nation's major supermarkets to protect workers.
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union last month organised a strike across Coles and Woolworths stores seeking better conditions for workers.
RAFFWU secretary Sean Cullinan said supermarkets are unsafe workplaces that are akin to "crime scenes", a problem the union believes was exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
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