17-year-old Pimpama boy charged after bringing knife into Coomera Westfield Shopping Centre

A 17-year-old boy has been charged after he took a weapon into a Gold Coast shopping centre, leaving customers scared for their safety.

17-year-old Pimpama boy charged after bringing knife into Coomera Westfield Shopping Centre. Photo: QPS.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged after he took a weapon into a popular Gold Coast shopping centre, leaving customers scared for their safety.

Gold Coast police were called after reports of a boy “acting suspiciously” at Coomera Westfield Shopping Centre at 5.45pm on Sunday.

Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles said shoppers told them they’d seen the teen conceal a knife beneath a vending machine at the busy retail hub.

“They were concerned he may be going to rob somebody,” he said.

Mr Knowles said the boy attempted to leave the scene when police arrived but was arrested in nearby bushland.

Police also found the knife he had allegedly tried to dump in the bushland.

He has been charged with going armed with a knife in a public place and obstruction of police and will appear before Southport Children’s Court on November 25.

Mr Knowles issued a stern warning to those attempting to bring knives into public places.

“Be aware — knives and shopping centres or public places do not work,” he said.

“We will pursue anybody that produces knives, hence the reason we’ve got the additional wanding powers in shopping centres now.”

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