Townsville crime blog: Jewellery store raided as thieves break into Castletown Shopping Centre
Two hooded men embarked on a brazen crime spree this morning, smashing their way into the Castletown Shopping Centre and raiding a jewellery store. Follow the crime blog.
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Two hooded men embarked on a brazen crime spree this morning, smashing their way into the Castletown Shopping Centre and raiding a jewellery store.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that two hooded male offenders used a shopping trolley to forcefully gain entry into the centre just before 3am on Thursday.
They went on to smash open a window at the Wallace Bishop jewellery store, where they made off with a number of valuable watches.
Investigations are ongoing.
More to come.
Three in custody after shopping centre chase, cops rammed
Three juveniles have been taken into custody following a dramatic chase through a busy Townsville shopping centre where police tracked down a stolen car that targeted two of their vehicles.
Police located a stolen blue Mitsubishi Challenger dumped in the car park of the Townsville Shopping Centre, formerly known as Stocklands, in Aitkenvale about 12.41pm on Wednesday.
Police were able to find three of the young occupants — two girls and a boy — inside the shopping centre and took them into custody.
It’s understood the stolen Challenger had been on a rampage throughout the day, engaging in dangerous driving and damaging two police cars.
The Challenger approached a police car at speed and rammed its rear on Ramsey St, Garbutt, around 10.30am.
Shortly afterwards, youths inside the vehicle threw an object at a second police car and damaged its window.
The stolen car also rammed another police vehicle in South Townsville around 12pm.
No police officers were injured during the incidents.
Investigations are ongoing.
Toilets torched as string of parks hit by vandals
Vandals have set fire to the public toilets at a popular park in Kirwan, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage and leaving authorities fuming.
The Mount View Park toilet block was left in ruins after vandals destroyed the toilets and lit a fire inside the structure.
A Townsville council spokesman expressed their outrage, saying, “It’s truly disheartening that the actions of a few have forced us to close these facilities to our park visitors.”
But Mount View Park is not alone in falling victim to such destructive behaviour.
The council revealed that this incident is part of an alarming pattern where various parks across the area have been targeted by vandals.
Robertson Park, Freemason Park, Loam Island, Western Lions Park, and a park in Kirwan have all been victims of similar acts of vandalism recently.
“The ongoing repairs have already cost the council and taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars,” the spokesman said.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Four in custody after stolen car dumped
Four boys — one as young as 11 — have been taken into custody after police tracked down a stolen Subaru dumped in Garbutt.
Police are investigating after a dark grey Subaru Liberty Sedan was stolen from a home in Bushland Beach on Sunday.
The car was later found dumped on Peel St, Garbutt around 9.30am on Monday.
Police have since taken four boys, aged 15, 15, 14 and 11, into custody in relation to the matter.
More to come.
String of businesses hit in overnight raid
Police are investigating after thieves hit three businesses within about two hours in Townsville.
The night began when thieves attempted to break into the Rising Sun Honda motorcycle dealers on Bowen Rd, Rosslea about 10.20pm on Sunday.
An hour later Mayfairs home-brew and tobacconist was broken into on Ross River Rd, Aitkenvale about 11.30pm.
Thieves then stole a number of watches after breaking into the Cash Converters in Hyde Park at 12.40am on Monday.
Police from the Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating whether all the incidents could be linked. No charges have been laid at this stage.
Originally published as Townsville crime blog: Jewellery store raided as thieves break into Castletown Shopping Centre
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