The new 'smash-and-grab' trend: Thieves preying on local chemists
Members, this week, police have been trying to catch a group of criminals in Queensland who seem to have thrown them for a loop.
It seems thieves have been targeting local chemists and pharmacies and employ a 'smash-and-grab' approach to stealing various products.
Allegations have arisen that the two offenders began the crime spree on or around the 14th of July and continued breaking into stores until August 20.
CCTV footage dated July 14–released by the Queensland Police Service–showed two people arriving in a white Toyota Hiace van after 2 am in front of a chemist on Vaughan Drive in Ormeau. They allegedly smashed the front window, stole a couple of men’s fragrances and damaged the shelves.
Around 3:30 am on the same day, two persons with the same description allegedly broke into an optometrist on Fairfield Road in Yeronga and fled with stock, which included lenses.
According to the police report, it was alleged that the thieves–a man and a woman–also targeted a chemist in Nexus Drive in Pimpama three times: first on July 22, then on August 12, and finally on August 20.
The earlier chemist on Vaughan Drive in Ormeau was broken into again on August 16, following the July 14th theft.
The offenders wore hoodies, masks, and gloves before fleeing in the white van.
The van was possibly a 2006 model and has been sighted with differing number plates. The police allege this was the same van linked to a series of fuel 'drive-offs' happening across the region. However, small changes have been noted between thefts.
The alleged perpetrators' reckless behaviour was brought to the public's attention in an interview this week by National’s Senator Matt Canavan.
'In Queensland, the Queensland government in 2019 changed their law so that for youth offenders judges had to take a presumption in favour of release,' said Canavan.
He continued: 'That was their words, a presumption in favour of release. The consequences of that are playing out on the streets every day. They need to reverse that, get rid of that, because throwing kids back in the gang environment, often with no parental supervision, is leading to the worse rates in the country.'
The police urges anyone who has information about the break-ins or who might be able to assist with identifying the van or the thieves to contact them.
You can watch the CCTV footage here:
Keep an eye out, members! Don’t hesitate to contact the authorities if you have any information about a crime.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
It seems thieves have been targeting local chemists and pharmacies and employ a 'smash-and-grab' approach to stealing various products.
Allegations have arisen that the two offenders began the crime spree on or around the 14th of July and continued breaking into stores until August 20.
CCTV footage dated July 14–released by the Queensland Police Service–showed two people arriving in a white Toyota Hiace van after 2 am in front of a chemist on Vaughan Drive in Ormeau. They allegedly smashed the front window, stole a couple of men’s fragrances and damaged the shelves.
Around 3:30 am on the same day, two persons with the same description allegedly broke into an optometrist on Fairfield Road in Yeronga and fled with stock, which included lenses.
According to the police report, it was alleged that the thieves–a man and a woman–also targeted a chemist in Nexus Drive in Pimpama three times: first on July 22, then on August 12, and finally on August 20.
The earlier chemist on Vaughan Drive in Ormeau was broken into again on August 16, following the July 14th theft.
The offenders wore hoodies, masks, and gloves before fleeing in the white van.
The van was possibly a 2006 model and has been sighted with differing number plates. The police allege this was the same van linked to a series of fuel 'drive-offs' happening across the region. However, small changes have been noted between thefts.
The alleged perpetrators' reckless behaviour was brought to the public's attention in an interview this week by National’s Senator Matt Canavan.
'In Queensland, the Queensland government in 2019 changed their law so that for youth offenders judges had to take a presumption in favour of release,' said Canavan.
He continued: 'That was their words, a presumption in favour of release. The consequences of that are playing out on the streets every day. They need to reverse that, get rid of that, because throwing kids back in the gang environment, often with no parental supervision, is leading to the worse rates in the country.'
The police urges anyone who has information about the break-ins or who might be able to assist with identifying the van or the thieves to contact them.
You can watch the CCTV footage here:
Key Takeaways
- Police are currently investigating a crime spree involving multiple break-ins at chemists and medical stores in Queensland.
- The alleged offences were often conducted by two individuals in hoodies, who used a crowbar to break in, focussing particularly on fragrance cabinets at chemists.
- The alleged offenders used a white Toyota Hiace van for all noticed offences, and the van was often reported to have differing number plates.
- National’s Senator Matt Canavan has called on the state governments to support police and enforce laws to in response to the rising crime spree and recidivism rates, particularly among young offenders.
Keep an eye out, members! Don’t hesitate to contact the authorities if you have any information about a crime.
What do you think of this story, members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!