Browns Plains businesses in fear as thugs caught on film

These are the photos that might help trace a band of thugs who have terrorised dozens of southside shop owners after waging late-night crime sprees using sledgehammers. WATCH THE VIDEO

THESE are the photos that might help trace some thugs who have terrorised Browns Plains shop owners after waging a crime spree across the suburb.

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Police released the CCTV footage today after more than 23 shops were targeted around Grand Plaza shopping centre in one weekend this month.

Browns Plains Homemaker Centre where there were 23 break-ins.

The crime spree started on May 16 and 17 and since then shop owners have lived in fear for their lives and businesses.

The thugs targeted the Homemaker Centre on Commerce Dr after smashing the front window of a petrol station on Browns Plains Rd and stealing cigarette lighters and papers.

A fast food drive-through on Browns Plains Rd was also broken into just before 5am on Saturday, May 16 but the would-be thieves left empty-handed.

One of the faces caught on film after break-ins at Browns Plains.

Thirty minutes later, a retail store at the nearby Homeware Centre on Commerce Dr was robbed after two men used a sledgehammer to ram down the front door.

A beauty salon in the complex was also trashed with hairdryers and equipment stolen.

Some high-vis vests were taken from another retail store at the centre after the rear door was smashed down.

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The break-ins continued in nearby Webber Dr, where the glass front door of a gymnasium was smashed and a computer stolen.

One of the thugs caught on film at a Browns Plains.

The majority of the offences were in Grand Plaza shopping centre, along Grand Plaza and Commerce Drive, Eastern Rd and Enterprise Way.

Logan District Crime Prevention Unit told business owners to step up security after offenders were caught on CCTV video smashing down front doors using sledgehammers and other instruments to force entry into shops and cars parked in business car parks.

Browns Plains CCTV footage showing one of the men.

Acting Sergeant Scott Behnke said the thugs were breaking in between 10pm and 6am and were targeting weak points in shopfronts including glass doors at the front and rear of shops, or windows.

“It’s abhorrent that these criminals continue to target small businesses in the area, particularly at a time when the businesses and their staff have faced significant difficulties associated with recent COVID-19 limitations,” he said.

“We continue to work with businesses in the area to ensure they safeguard their premises as much as possible, and investigators will continue to look at all avenues to ensure these criminals are caught.”