Teen criminals allegedly behind Pimpama Coles Express armed robbery post crime online

A teen gang who threatened a Gold Coast service station worker to hand over cash are now bragging about their crime online. See the photos and angry police response.

Police investigate armed robbery of Pimpama service stations.

A youth gang allegedly behind the armed robbery of a Gold Coast service station have filmed the entire ordeal and boasted about it on social media.

The Pearl Energy Petrol Station on Yawalpha Road, Pimpama was one of two businesses in the suburb targeted early on Thursday morning.

What appears to be the service station attendant as they are forced to handover the till.

The service station till loaded with cash.

Video posted to a known juvenile offender’s Instagram account appears to show the moment the group – of as many as five teen thugs – storm the service station.

In the footage, what appears to be a worker, can be seen opening up the till and handing over the drawer full of cash.

Some of the juveniles appear to have their faces uncovered.

The incident unfolds quickly – the offenders leaving the store with a handful of cash – walking outside to a waiting car.

One of the teens can be seen running out of the service station carrying a pallet of soft drink.

The incident has Gold Coast police incensed over new laws introduced by the state government last year aimed at stamping-out so called “posting and boasting”.

Offenders publishing their crimes on social media face a maximum jail term of up to six years.

Police sources say the robbery at Pimpama is evidence the tough measures aren’t making a difference.

“It’s self-evident – do these kids look scared of the law to you?” a senior Gold Coast officer said.

“You can spend a decade, if not more, behind bars for an armed robbery offence.

“If that was being enforced – with the social media laws – we wouldn’t see juveniles self-incriminating online.”

(Left) One of the offenders leaving the Pearl Energy service station (right) carrying a pallet of soft drink.

Service stations robbed in Pimpama overnight. Picture: Charlton Hart

According to the officer – serious repeat juvenile offenders they have charged with posting crimes on social media have continued to be released back into the community and reoffend.

“It’s clear they don’t work.

“What was the response to this? We had the government attack the social media companies for not pulling down the content.

“Why should it be their responsibility to monitor 150 kids on a platform of three billion – it’s absurd.”

Around the same time Pearl Energy was robbed – the Coles Express service station at Pimpama City Shopping Centre was targeted.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said three masked offenders smashed their way into the business at 4am.

Once inside, they threatened a worker at knifepoint, demanding cigarettes and taking the cash register.

According to the QPS spokesman the trio also stole the worker’s Ford Fiesta.

They were seen leaving the Jacobs Well Road address in a Black Audi Q5.

Coles Express service station, Pimpama was closed on Thursday and the shattered glass doors were replaced. Picture: Charlton Hart

Service stations robbed in Pimpama overnight. Picture: Charlton Hart

A QPS spokesman said different groups are believed to be involved in the two incidents. It’s unclear at this stage whether there are any links.

Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact crime stoppers or police link on 131 444.

Originally published as Teen criminals allegedly behind Pimpama Coles Express armed robbery post crime online