A 23-year-old Shepparton man has been refused bail following a harrowing daytime carjacking incident in which a 93-year-old passenger was allegedly driven away in a stolen vehicle.

The alarming event unfolded on a recent Friday afternoon outside Goulburn Valley Health on Graham Street, Shepparton. Authorities report that at approximately 4:30 PM, a female driver had briefly stepped away from her vehicle to make a nearby purchase. At this precise moment, a 23-year-old individual allegedly entered the driver's seat and sped off, unaware or unconcerned that her 93-year-old passenger, a Tongala resident, remained seated inside.

Concern mounted as the vehicle and its elderly occupant were missing for a significant period. Emergency services launched an immediate search, which thankfully concluded successfully approximately ninety minutes later. The stolen car was discovered parked on Ford Road, with the elderly gentleman still inside. Despite the terrifying ordeal, he was found to be physically uninjured, though undoubtedly shaken by the experience.

Detectives from the Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit swiftly located and apprehended the alleged perpetrator nearby. It is understood he was found in the vicinity after reportedly forcing entry into an office building. The 23-year-old suspect has since been charged with multiple serious offences, including false imprisonment, motor vehicle theft, and burglary.

He was formally refused bail and has been remanded in custody. The Shepparton Magistrates' Court is scheduled to hear his case on August 21, where further details surrounding the dramatic incident are expected to emerge.