Truck drivers pulled from cab, assaulted while stopped at border servo

Multiple truck drivers resting in their cabs have been attacked by maniacal bandits armed with hammers and knives along a regional highway in the early hours of the morning.

Truck drivers resting in their cabs along a regional highway near the New South Wales and Queensland border have been attacked in terrifying robberies by a group of bandits armed with hammers and knives.

Police are investigating several terrifying ordeals, some which has left the heavy haulage industry concerned for their safety.

Cross-border crime has flared with both Queensland and New South Wales police responding to a spate of robberies and burglaries.

At about 12.20am on October 24, a group of offenders smashed a door to gain entry to a property in Callandoon Street, Goondiwindi where they threatened the occupant.

They stole the keys to a white Jeep and fled with the vehicle.

At 1.38am, four men wearing balaclavas exited the white Jeep and approached a man who had just refuelled his truck at a service station

“One jumped up on the front and one tried to smash the window before the truck driver drove off and the suspects decamped,” Goondiwindi Senior Sergeant Richard Macintosh said.

The group later scouted another Goondiwindi property where they attempted to enter before forcing entry to a cabin at a nearby caravan park.

It’s understood at about 3am NSW emergency services were called to an area off the Newell Highway, near Gunsynd Way at Boggabilla to reports of a robbery.

Queensland and NSW police are investigating a number of violent incidents that recently occurred across the Qld border. Source: Supplied.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said a 36-year-old man told New England Police District officers he had been asleep in the cab of his truck when he was threatened by an offender with a knife who demanded money.

It’s understood the thief then fled the scene with a wallet and jewellery in the stolen Jeep Cherokee.

The border towns of Goondiwindi and Boggabilla made national headlines earlier this year after a specialised Queensland Police Service taskforce was deployed to tackle a growing crime spree.

In a matter of minutes after the brazen theft, what’s believed to be the same Jeep pulled off the Newell Highway and stopped beside a woman parked in another vehicle.

It’s understood the unknown driver threatened and demanded money from the 59-year-old woman before she drove off uninjured.

NSW Police are investigating after multiple truck drivers were reportedly assaulted while parked at a Boggabilla service station in the early hours of October 24. Photo: Maps

Moments later at about 3.10am another truck driver parked behind a Boggabilla service station was asleep in his cab when the driver’s side window was smashed.

The 66-year-old driver told police a man entered the cab and struck him with a claw hammer to his right knee while threatening and demanding money.

It’s understood the unknown male has stolen the truck driver’s wallet before driving off in a Jeep.

The unknown offender has continued has reign of terror again only a short time later at 3.30am breaking into another heavy vehicle and assaulting the 61-year-old sleeping driver.

A third wallet was reportedly stolen before the unknown offender has taken off in search of his next victim, approaching another truck driver in his 40s.

The 46-year-old truck driver told police the unknown male left in a Jeep when he called over a friend for assistance.

NSW police are continuing to investigate these incidents and urge anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Truck drivers pulled from cab, assaulted while stopped at border servo