Gold Coast Candy Shop owner says kids need to be held accountable when they steal

A crew of teenagers descended upon a Coast small business, stuffing “anything they touched into their pockets” in a brazen stealing spree. SEE THE VIDEO >>

A lolly shop owner said “it really hurts” when kids steal from her store, especially when small businesses are already struggling.

The Candy Crew shop co-owner Melissa Moballe-Neill said her and her partner Luke opened the store in December 2020.

A group of young teenagers entered the Paradise Point store during peak time on a Sunday and “put anything they touched into their pockets.”

Footage of teenagers stealing from The Candy Crew.

“We took a big leap of faith and opened a business during one of the toughest times,” Ms Moballe-Neill said.

“The employee who was working saw them peeling out the door so she followed them into a cafe a few stores down.

“She pretty much said ‘I know you have stolen stuff, give me what you have’ and only one person gave an item back.

“The police came and had a look at the footage but there was not much they could do.

“Even though each item isn’t expensive it is the fact they are basically taking money out of our back pocket.

“The same money that we need to feed our son. It really hurts.”

She said she posted the video to Facebook in hopes to find the parents and make the kids be held accountable for their actions.

“I would want to know if my son was out doing something I was unaware of,” Ms Moballe-Neill said.

She said school holidays and weekends are the worst for catching kids in the early teens trying to steal.

“There should be more accountability,” Ms Moballe-Niell said.

“At the end of the day they will keep doing it and there is no repercussions.

“Unfortunately kids probably don’t understand what they are doing to a small business when they steal.”

WATCH: MULTIPLE CARS UP IN FLAMES

OCTOBER 23: FIREFIGHTERS have tackled two fierce car fires on the Gold Coast, which left the vehicles charred wrecks.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) firefighters were called to a car blaze on Henry Cotton Dr at Parkwood just before 7pm on Monday.

They found it was “well involved” and spent about half an hour extinguishing the fire.

The wreckage of the car was left in the hands of its owner, a QFES spokeswoman said.

Firefighters were then called to the intersection of Kopps Rd and California Dr at Oxenford about 7.20pm.

The crew spent about 10 minutes dousing a car fire, which Queensland Police officers believe may have been deliberately lit, according to a police spokesman.

The vehicle was located some distance from the roadway.

Police have appealed for information from the public about the Oxenford car fire.

There has been a spate of car fires on the Gold Coast in recent weeks, either deliberately lit or resulting from engine fires and other vehicle issues.

Know more about the Oxenford fire? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Cops find alleged hydroponic cannabis crop in Coast raid

OCTOBER 22: A man has been charged with multiple offences including producing dangerous drugs after an alleged hydroponic cannabis crop was located at a Gold Coast unit by police.

Officers raided the Broadbeach unit at about 7am on Thursday and allegedly found 23 mature cannabis plants, lights, transformers, pots and testing devices.

A further search of the Britannia Ave property was conducted and police allegedly found 190 grams of cannabis.

A 49-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possessing things used in connection with a drug offence and possessing drug utensils.

He is scheduled to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on November 2.

Kids as young as 12 in ‘stolen’ car crash, ‘drink driver’ ploughs through fence

OCTOBER 22: A Brisbane man has been charged with drink driving after he allegedly crashed a ute through the fence of a Gold Coast home while four times the legal alcohol limit.

The Holden Rodeo smashed through the side fence of the home and “almost went into a pool” at the Burrendong Rd, Coombabah home about 10.50pm on Thursday, a Gold Coast police spokeswoman said.

The Bulletin is constantly reporting on youths stealing cars on the Gold Coast.

“It is alleged the driver returned a breath test of 0.194 which is almost four times the limit,” she said.

Police have charged a 35-year-old Carina man with driving under the influence of liquor and unlicensed driving.

He was expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on November 4.

Meanwhile, police officers also responded after four youths in a “stolen vehicle” lost control and “crashed at Gaven” on Friday morning.

“Around 4.20am, police were called after a stolen Toyota Camry crashed at Hammond Dr, near the intersection with Smith St,” the spokeswoman said.

“Four juvenile were observed by members of the public leaving the vehicle. A search of the area by police located four youths.”

Police believe the Toyota had been stolen from a Tugun address between 12.01am and 3am on October 19.

Officers have been speaking to a 12-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl, who were “assisting police with their inquiries”.

Follow @LukeWMortimer

Originally published as Gold Coast Candy Shop owner says kids need to be held accountable when they steal