Dramatic footage shows a group of criminals targeting several businesses across 17 suburbs in south-east Queensland.
The group were travelling in an allegedly stolen luxury car when they attempted to rob a tobacconist in Manly West about 2am today but failed to get past the security system.
Shortly after, the group then struck a family grocer in Wynnum West.
“Around two o’clock, they just broke this door, they entered with the box,” supermarket owner Falguni said.
“Very stressful, just like trauma.”
About 2.30am, the group broke into a chemist in East Brisbane, with CCTV showing them appearing to take off with cash from the register.
“Having cameras, they don’t care, they’re all gloved up, masked, they don’t really care,” chemist owner Jeff Gath said.
“It’s senseless damage, affects the community, affects everyone who works here.”
Police believe the offenders are the same group who have been targeting multiple businesses throughout the south-east.
Their crime spree began when they stole a luxury car from a retirement village in Runcorn on April 1.
Since then, they have hit 17 suburbs across Brisbane’s South and Bayside, Logan and the Gold Coast.
“I think that these offenders have been opportunistic in the locations that they have chosen,” Detective Senior Sergeant Christopher Lafferty said.
Police spotted the group breaking into a Yochi in Morningside but they fled up Oxford Street.
Yochi employee Jessica Souza said she was “completely shocked” and was “not something we expect from the community”.
The group remain on the run tonight and investigations continue.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
