Cairns crime: Tradies stop alleged carjacking, tobacco shop robbery

Fast-acting tradies have stepped in to restrain a couple who police allege robbed a CBD tobacco shop before attempting to carjack a getaway vehicle.

Police were called to the Cairns Tobacconist outlet on Lake Street. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Fast-acting tradies have stepped in to restrain a couple who police allege robbed a CBD tobacco shop before attempting to carjack a getaway vehicle.

Police allege a man and woman entered the Cairns Tobacconist on Lake St on Monday afternoon and assaulted a woman behind the counter before taking off with the cash register.

The pair attempted to open a parked vehicle before approaching a white hatchback in the driveway next to Orchid Plaza.

Shirley Tognola was at Lake St with her children when the drama erupted.

“There were two tradies there with a truck and (offenders) asked him for a hammer and then they jumped in the woman’s car,” she said.

Police allege the driver of the vehicle was opening a garage door a short distance away, before the offenders allegedly got in and demanded the passenger get out and a struggle ensued.

“The woman was screaming, but she would not get out of the car,” Ms Tognola said.

The woman accused of the robbery allegedly bit the 55-year-old Brisbane woman in the car on the arm during the struggle, before members of the public intervened and restrained the pair until police arrived.

“As soon as they jumped in the car I saw the tradie run in and hit him in the head and he was knocked out,” Ms Tognola said.

“It’s full on, it was all happening and it happened so quickly.”

Both were arrested and taken to the Cairns watch house where a quantity of methylamphetamine was located on the woman during a police search.

Police were called to Lake Street after a couple tried to rob a tobacco shop on Monday afternoon.

According to Cairns Regional Council, reported offence data for January and February in 2024 compared with the same months this year showed a huge increase in armed robbery offences within the Cairns local government area.

Armed robbery offences jumped 380 per cent from just five offences in 2024 to 24 earlier this year.

Parramatta Park woman Shanley Lucy Leanne Kynuna, 28, was charged with one count each of robbery in company, attempted robbery in company, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm in company and possessing dangerous drugs.

Alan Benjamin Springer, a 29-year-old Cairns North man, was charged with one count each of robbery in company, attempted robbery in company, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and possessing drug utensils.

Police bail was refused, and the pair are scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

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Originally published as Cairns crime: Tradies stop alleged carjacking, tobacco shop robbery