Thieves steal $8000 to $11,000 worth of tobacco from United Petroleum in Noonamah

Thieves have smashed their way in to a Top End servo stealing up to $11k worth of tobacco products. SEE THE VIDEO

THIEVES have smashed their way into a popular Stuart Hwy servo before stealing an estimated $8000 to $11,000 worth of tobacco products early on Tuesday morning.

The incident marks the second time this year the small business has been targeted by the criminals.

United Petroleum Noonamah owner Ram Kolan woke up about 1am on Tuesday and began the clean-up process, sweeping up $3000 worth of glass and ordering more to secure the business.

CCTV footage shows the service station being broken into by a group of people who appear to be male.

“There were a bunch of people, three people came in and started hitting hard at the front window, six or seven times and then the glass broke,” Mr Kolan said.

“Then it took five or six punches and the Crimsafe came off.”

At first when Mr Kolan received the early morning call from security, he thought it was just insects setting off the alarms like they routinely do but instead he decided to send security out “just to make sure”.

“But then I had a strong feeling, so I told security to send the guards,” he said.

The footage shows one person keeping watch at the door and two people bashing into the lockup cabinet where tobacco products are stored.

United Petroleum Noonamah owners Mr Kolan says he is sick and tired of criminals targeting his small business. Picture: Floss Adams.

“From the footage, it looks like they have been in the shop before as a customer because they went straight to the cabinet where the smokes are,” Mr Kolan said.

“Normally it takes new people time to locate them and they knew where to go.”

Along with thousands of tobacco, about $1800 of cash was also taken from the till.

In total, between the two break-ins this year, the small business has endured a loss of about $26,000 through stolen stock, cash and damage to the premises.

“It is so frustrating, it has completely changed us,” Mr Kolan said.

“I never thought this would happen to me.”

Mr Kolan questioned a regular customer of the business who happened to be a policeman and asked why ‘these people do not get the same punishment as others?’.

“That’s why multiple break-ins by the same people are happening because they’re not punishing – they think they can just do it again,” he said.

“Ultimately we just have to move on, there is nothing we can do about these incidents.”

A spokesman for NT Police said Strike Force Trident was continuing to investigate the incident.

“At around 1.45am on Tuesday, police received a report that four males had unlawfully entered the premises on Stuart Highway and stole a number of small items,” the spokesman said.

“Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference 10051440.”

Originally published as Thieves steal $8000 to $11,000 worth of tobacco from United Petroleum in Noonamah