Two men charged over spate of robberies in Brisbane’s south

Police have charged two teenagers over three armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery in Brisbane’s south on Thursday and Friday nights and into Saturday morning.

Police arrested the pair, aged 17 and 18, at a Springfield residence on Saturday and charged them with five offences each, including three counts of armed robbery, one of attempted armed robbery, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

They remained in custody on Sunday after being refused bail, and were expected to appear in court on Monday.

Police and emergency crews responded to a number of serious incidents south of Brisbane overnight.

Police said the first offence occurred in South Brisbane shortly before midnight on Thursday, when the pair allegedly tried to rob a Hope Street address.

They are then accused of committing an armed robbery in Jurgens Street, Woolloongabba, about 1.50am on Friday.

Officers said the pair resumed their alleged spree the following evening in two separate robberies – in Tarragindi and Rochedale – in the early hours of Saturday.

Detectives from Upper Mount Gravatt’s criminal investigation branch said a 23-year-old man on a motorised scooter had stopped on Kuring Gai Avenue in Tarragindi about 12.20am when a silver vehicle pulled up beside him.

The officers reported the occupants then left the vehicle and threatened the rider with a machete before he fled on foot to a nearby service station.

While the man was not physically injured, the group reportedly stole his scooter before leaving in two vehicles.

About an hour later at 1.40am, police said the same vehicle approached a 29-year-old man riding a motorbike along Gardner Road in Rochedale before the occupants struck at him with a machete.

The man rode towards a fast-food restaurant on Miles Platting Road but was followed by the group, who allegedly threatened him and demanded his keys.

When the man complied, police said the group stole his motorbike before again fleeing in two vehicles.

The rider was not injured.

Officers from the Dutton Park criminal investigation branch located a 17-year-old and 18-year-old on Saturday afternoon at a Springfield residence, where they reported finding two stolen motorbikes.

Investigations were continuing on Sunday afternoon.

About the same time that the robberies were reported, emergency crews attended two suspicious fires at Inala in Brisbane’s south.

They were not believed to be related to the robberies.

Emergency services were called to a residence on Bamboo Street about 1.30am, but the fire was quickly extinguished, with only minor damage to the house.

A short time later, about 1.55am, emergency services were called to another fire on Japonica Street.

The building was well alight and significantly damaged by the time crews arrived.

Police said initial investigations indicated the two fires were linked, and crime scenes were established at both locations.

Police have urged anyone with information – including dashcam or CCTV vision – relevant to any of the incidents to contact them.

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