Brumby’s Wyalla baker threatened by teens armed with axe, hammer

After arriving in a Australia less than eight weeks ago, a young baker has endued harrowing threats and was forced to empty his pockets after a group of teenage offenders forced their way into his new workplace.

Dramatic CCTV footage has emerged showing juvenile offenders forcing their way into the Brumby’s at Whyalla Plaza, and threatening a baker with a hammer and an axe before ransacking the place.

The video shows the teens using a plank of wood to force open the bakery door before threatening a migrant worker who had arrived in Australia about eight weeks ago.

One of the teens tore open a counter in search of cash before regrouping with his co-offenders and forcing the baker to empty his pockets.

Sadly, one of the teens appears to be several years younger than the main offenders.

Owner Denise Statham said the worker should not have had to endure the assault.

“It is devastating to see what a person can do to someone when they are working hard, especially after they have just come from overseas,” she said.

“I’ve been here (at the bakery) for 15 years and have never experienced a robbery with such violence.

“Kenny is a beautiful soul and this will scar him mentally.

It is just horrendous.”

The attempted robbery occurred shortly after 1am on Wednesday morning and was part of a wild crime spree that saw teen offenders force their way into seven homes and businesses.

Included in their list of victims was an 86-year-old woman who was threatened with a knife in her Prince Henry Drive home.

Police arrested a 16-year-old Toowoomba boy on Friday evening in relation to the incident and charged him with two counts of robbery, seven counts of entering a premises, one count of attempted robbery and several lesser offences.

His matters were briefly mentioned in the Toowoomba Childrens Court on Tuesday where he was remanded in custody.

It is understood he is likely to remain behind bars until the charges are heard in the Childrens Court of Queensland in June.

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki MP said youth offenders left a trail of destruction across the city.

“Residents and small businesses are still picking up the pieces after a huge spike in break-ins and robberies,” Mr Janetzki said.

“I’m extremely concerned about the escalation of violence with weapons and what these youths are capable of, ” he said.

“This is Toowoomba. No-one should go to work with the fear of being attacked by armed offenders while doing their job. Enough is enough.”

Originally published as Brumby’s Wyalla baker threatened by teens armed with axe, hammer