Rockhampton Liquorland, IGA and Frenchville Sports Club among targets in weekend break-ins spree

A business in North Rockhampton was ramraided and the offenders then took an umbrella to the glass doors. See the footage here.

Glaziers were kept busy on Monday morning after multiple businesses and homes were targeted in a break-ins spree across Rockhampton and Yeppoon last weekend.

It is understood there was a total of 17 break-ins and attempted break-ins including incidents where cars were stolen and one business was even ramraided.

Liquorland next to the Farm Street IGA at Glenmore was one of the businesses hit.

Police believe a Ford Ranger was stolen from a Parkhurst tourist park early on Sunday morning.

About 9.30pm, a group reversed the vehicle into the front doors of the liquor shop, and then used an umbrella to puncture holes in the glass.

They were unsuccessful in gaining entry to the store.

Then at 9.50pm, the glass window at Liquorland at Allenstown Square was smashed.

The offenders allegedly stole some bottles of sparkling wine from the window but were unable to gain access to the store.

Around half an hour later, at 10.20pm, there was an attempted break-in at the Frenchville Sports Club.

The damage showed the offenders had tried to disable the alarm system at the top of the electronic doors at the main entrance but were unsuccessful in getting inside.

Around 11.30pm, police deployed tyre deflators on Moores Creek Road at Park Avenue and the vehicle stopped about 1km down the road.

The occupants in the vehicle fled.

Dean Street IGA was also broken into at some point on Sunday night.

The offenders smashed a glass door and they allegedly stole some soft drinks and chips.

Capricornia District Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey said the weekend’s property offences spike was one of the worst he has seen.

“We understand the frustration of the public and we are working really closely with a number of groups to try and apprehend these people as fast as we can,” he said.

“We know it’s not just a Rocky thing, we see similar offences on probably a larger scale, in Townsville and Cairns.

“We want to return to the safe little haven of Rockhampton.”

Police said investigations were ongoing and it was too early to say at this stage how many offenders were involved in last weekend’s incidents.

As of July 25, Rockhampton police had charged 30 offenders on 137 property related offences.

“Police are out there, we are arresting these offenders,” Inspector Peachey said.

“A large majority of offenders are juveniles, in all instances the bail has been objected to and a number of those people are now in custody.

“We work really hard around the space of working with juveniles before they commit offences and we are constantly reviewing our approaches towards that.”

Inspector Peachey sent a strong message to the offenders.

“It’s only a matter of time before we catch up with you, it‘s only a matter of time before we put you behind bars, and the public, rest assured, we won’t sleep until we find these people,” he said.

The businesses attacked on Sunday night were all fitted with alarms and were hit late at night when the stores were closed, in what Inspector Peachey called “sneak offences”.

“Police respond as quickly as we can… it’s frustrating I get it… they are using these vehicles, they are in and out very quickly, many a case before we are actually able to respond to these jobs and get there,” he said.

Residents are being urged to take the extra steps to make sure their homes, vehicles and businesses are securely locked.

“I know people shouldn’t have to lock their houses, but just make sure your vehicles and houses are much harder for people to get into.”

Braithen Yoren, 19, is facing nine charges in relation to some of the incidents that allegedly occurred last weekend.

Mr Yoren was charged with one count of attempt enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence, one count of possess dangerous drug, three counts of receive tainted property, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of wilful damage.

He appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday, July 25, and was remanded in custody to appear again on August 24.