CCTV: Men force way into bowls club in crime spree

POLICE have released CCTV footage of four men who broke into a Tin Can Bay bowls club early Tuesday morning as part of suspected crime spree through the region.

Four men force their way into the Tin Can Bay Bowls Club in the early hours of Tuesday August 16. Picture: Contributed

UPDATE: POLICE have released CCTV footage of four men who broke into a Tin Can Bay bowls club early Tuesday morning, stealing alcohol and smashing property as part of suspected crime spree through the region.

Businesses in Gympie, Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach were all victims of break and enter incidents on the same night, with five burglaries and one attempted burglary.

SEE MORE CCTV IMAGES IN THE GALLERY BELOW

In an especially low act, the offenders stole the contents of two charity tins.

They also damaged a number of doors in the building.

Police are asking for any information from the public over the incidents, and have also asked for dash-cam footage taken around the Tin Can Bay, Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach areas between 1am and 4am on Tuesday.

Gympie Police Sergeant Gregg Davey told the Gympie Times on Tuesday the same offenders were most likely responsible for all the break-ins.

CCTV: Men break into bowls club

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EARLIER: Tuesday 9am

BUSINESSES in Gympie, Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach were the target of a seemingly planned crime spree overnight when intruders worked their way through six stores and clubs in the region.

The success of the night's ploy is not completely known yet but the worst seems to be damage to an ATM and missing gold coins.

The Victory Hotel in Gympie was targeted when the rear-sliding glass door was forced open and the intruders rummaged through property but left with none.

An attempt to break into the Southside Bowls Club; where intruders tried to gain access through the front double glass doors and removed a light bulb to remain unseen, was possibly disturbed when a caretaker saw people running from the area around midnight.

Intruders damaged an ATM at the Tin Can Bay Bowls Club and raided an alcohol fridge when an alarm for the club was activated.

Three stores at Rainbow Beach were also hit, but except for missing gold coins, the full details of what was stolen are still unknown.

Sergeant Gregg Davey said the six incidents are most likely linked, with past criminal activity historically showing that offenders travel from outside the area and target the region before moving on.

"For us to have these sort of break-ins it's probably going to be linked to the same group," Sgt Davey said.

Gympie's Criminal Investigation Bureau and Scenes of Crime are investigating the incidents.

Anyone with information can report to the Gympie Police on 5480 1111 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.