Sunshine Coast break ins lead to police hunt | video

Police are appealing for public assistance after three Sunshine Coast businesses were broken into overnight. Watch the video.

Police are appealing for public assistance after two Sunshine Coast businesses were broken into overnight.

CCTV footage captured four individuals simultaneously breaking into the Coles Shopping Centre on Jones Rd in North Buderim and its nearby Cignall store about 3am on September 12, 2022.

Police said in a statement the group were using a stolen, silver 2008 Toyota Camry with registration 490STP. It was believed to have been taken from Stretton in Brisbane’s South.

Two of the alleged offenders attempted to gain access to the cigarette cabinet of the Coles supermarket, but were sprung by staff before they could take anything.

Unknown offenders allegedly breaking into a cigarette shop in North Buderim. Picture: QPS

Meanwhile, another two broke into a nearby Cignall store and stole around $15,000 worth of tobacco before the group fled in a stolen car.

Police believe this store was subject to another break on September 6.

A Cignall employee, who asked not to be named, confirmed this and said their store had suffered more than $40,000 in costs due to damages and lost stock in the latest raid.

The employee said the first raid happened only a week earlier and cost the store almost $15,000 in damages.

Still shot from CCTV footage showed the culprits breaking into a Sunshine Coast business and stealing cigarettes from the cabinet. Photo: Queensland Police Media

The group then broke into the Woombye Spar supermarket about 3.30am and stole about $17,000 worth of tobacco and mobile phones before they fled the scene.

The break in at the Woombye Spar. Picture: Patrick Woods

The stolen vehicle is understood to have then returned to Brisbane.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said it comes amid an influx of criminals from Brisbane and the Gold Coast targeting areas on the Sunshine Coast, though these culprits were expected to sell the goods they stole.

“Currently this group of people are targeting tobacco-based outlets. On other occasions they tend to target people’s properties and steal vehicles … but on this occasion it was for commercial gain,” Sergeant Mansfield said.

The offenders are estimated to have been between late teens to early 20s.

Anyone with dashcam footage from between 3am and 3.30am from Buderim North or Woombye on September 12 is urged to contact police.