Police are seeking help from the public following a daring theft of cigarettes worth approximately $20,000 from the Metro Petroleum service station in Newtown early on Wednesday morning.
Security footage of the incident reveals how the criminals used a hammer to smash the front door before leaping over the counter. They then employed a hatchet to forcibly open the cigarette display cabinet.
Three young offenders proceeded to help themselves to trays of cigarettes while the store’s alarm blared in the background. At one point, one of the criminals lost his balance and fell, causing the stolen cigarettes to scatter across the floor.
Toowoomba Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker confirmed that investigators are on the lookout for a dark-coloured 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (registration 246YWY) that was involved in the crime.
“The vehicle was taken from a Centenary Heights residence at around 2:30am on Tuesday,” he said. “The homeowner was disturbed by the sound of their car being driven away, and it appears the keys may have been left nearby.”
The suspects remain at large.
Anyone who may have information about their whereabouts is urged to come forward and assist the investigation.
Call Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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