Police investigating armed robbery at CBD tobacconist

The shop worker was wounded defending a Toowoomba CBD store during a frightening daylight robbery.

The TS Top Tobacconist was robbed on February 25, 2025.

The owner of a Toowoomba tobacconist has one of his workers to thank after she defended the Russell Street store during an armed robbery.

Police allege two men entered the TS Top Tobacconist about 12.30am on Tuesday and mulled in a corner of the store before pulling a knife on the female retail workers and demanding cash.

“They came to the counter and said, ‘give us all your money or you’ll get stabbed’ then I went to reach for my phone and one of them took my phone,” the worker alleged.

“I told him to come around and grab the money, he went to stab me and I grabbed the box cutter and blocked the knife. I tried to swing at him with the box cutter.

“He got frightened and ran off, but cut me on my arm in the process.”

It is alleged the two men briefly left the store and the worker said she quickly closed the door and leaned against.

“They tried to get back in and were pushing on the door,” she said.

“They were just crackheads, they looked like junkies.”

The men fled with a small amount of smoking products in a maroon coloured 2009 model Nissan utility.

Police arrived a short time later and following their investigations, arrested the two men at Oakey.

They will appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A 22-year-old St George man has been charged with one count each of enter with intent and armed robbery.

An 18-year-old Harristown man has been charged with one count each of enter with intent, armed robbery, stealing, wilful damage, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evasion and failing to take reasonable care and precautions in respect to syringe or needle.

Originally published as Police investigating armed robbery at CBD tobacconist