Manhunt for Armed Suspects in Gilston

UPDATE: The men have been found and arrested.

Residents of the Gold Coast suburb of Gilston have been urged to remain indoors as Queensland Police, with the assistance of Polair, conduct a search for three men allegedly armed with a gun and a machete. The incident follows an alleged robbery at a home in Arundel early on Christmas Eve.

According to a Gold Coast police spokesman, officers were called to a residence in Arundel around 5:00AM after reports that three men had allegedly robbed the home while armed. It is understood that money was taken during the incident.

Police later located a vehicle linked to the robbery abandoned in the Gilston area. A significant search operation is now underway, with officers combing nearby bushland for the suspects. Polair helicopters have been circling the area, providing aerial support for the ground teams.

Local residents have reported a heavy police presence, with exclusion zones established to aid the search. One Gilston resident shared that police had warned them to stay inside and to contact triple zero if they observed any suspicious activity or fresh sightings of the suspects. Another resident, who lives inside the exclusion zone, described the heightened security in their neighbourhood: “There’s a police van parked outside my home, choppers flying overhead, and my street is blocked off. Nobody is allowed in or out.”

The search continues, and authorities have not yet reported any arrests. Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and to follow all safety instructions.

The Gold Coast Torch will provide updates on this developing situation as more information becomes available.