Mansfield, Jacobs Well and Redland Bay tobacco shops broken into, police believe linked

Three tobacco shops in Brisbane’s southeast have been targeted overnight, which police believe could be linked.

A store manager has chased a group of armed thieves with nothing but his “bare hands” to stop them from breaking in, as police investigate whether there are links between the incident and two other break-ins in Brisbane’s southeast overnight.

Police are investigating the break-and-enter and attempted break-and- enter of tobacconists, three hours apart, in Mansfield, Redland Bay and Jacobs Well.

A group of people tried to break into the Mansfield Tobacco and Gifts shop on Aminya Street about 2.36am on Wednesday but were unsuccessful.

The group left in a small, dark coloured vehicle.

Raid on tobacco store

Police were then called to reports of a break and enter at Cignall Tobacco and Homebrew at Broadwater Terrace, Redland Bay about 3.30am.

Police believe the offenders gained entry to the business before they left in the same small dark coloured car.

When the offenders broke in, the security system inside issued smoke.

Three Queensland Fire Department crews attended the scene but no fire was located and they treated the smoke.

Paramedics also attended the scene but no patients were reported.

Armed thieves attempted to break in to Jacobs Well Fuels And General Store, but were fended off by the store manager using his bare hands.

The group used a grinder to remove the locks on a cigarette cabinet before fleeing in a sedan.

Yatin Shori said he was sleeping in the house behind the Kumgum St store when he heard a noise about 4.20am.

“There was an unusual noise, but usually my staff open at 4.30 and I thought it was a bit early and then I heard some, manly noise, and I just woke up and called triple-0, and straight away, went out and rushed towards them,” he said.

“They had crowbars, angle cutters, so I went behind them, I rushed towards them.”

He said it was a little bit frightening.

“And then I realised, now I don’t want to let them take away all that stuff, it’s hard-earned money,” he said.

“I didn’t have anything in my hand. I was just with bare hands and tried to chase them down, but they were fast.

“I don’t know what came into my mind, I knew I was on the phone to cops, so I thought if something wrong happens, they know that something bad happened over here. So I just jumped up.”

It is unclear whether it is connected to the other two tobacco shops.

While investigating the incident, officers identified that the tobacco shop across the road had also been broken into.

Investigations are ongoing and police are asking for anyone with information or footage to come forward.

It comes almost a year after the Mansfield Tobacco and Gifts business was deliberately ram raided with a ute on April 17.

A 28-year-old man was charged with multiple offences including two counts each of break and enter premises and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Originally published as Mansfield, Jacobs Well and Redland Bay tobacco shops broken into, police believe linked