Stolen ute hits shopping centre overnight

Rapid repairs are underway at Townsville Shopping Centre (formerly Stocklands) after a stolen ute rammed into the centre, just metres from the Police Beat shop.

Stolen car rams into Townsville Shopping Centre, January 11 2025

Rapid repairs are underway at Townsville Shopping Centre (formerly Stocklands) after a stolen car rammed into the centre, taking out a wall of glass just metres away from the Police Beat shop.

Police said around 2.40am the Ford Ranger - allegedly stolen from a Currajong address two days prior - was driven into the front of the shopping centre.

The driver and passengers all fled the scene on foot, and have not been located.

Police say investigations are ongoing.

Stolen car rams into Townsville Shopping Centre, damaging the window of accounting firm ITP on January 11.

A visit to the scene reveals the stolen ute had managed to get behind a set of steel bollards to get into the Ross River Rd entrance, before it impacted with the floor to ceiling glass wall of accounting firm ITP.

ITP is located directly beside the Aitkenvale Police Beat station.

The glass was cleared and repairs were underway when the centre opened at 9am this morning.

This damage comes after ram raids by a stolen Toyota Prado on Monday morning (Jan 6) and Wednesday morning (Jan 8) and a spate of damaging ram raids targeting businesses on November 26.

Townsville Shopping Centre manager Kelly Taylor-Smith said the entrance has been cleared and the structural integrity of the centre deemed safe by engineers.

“The shopping centre’s 24/7 onsite security were able to respond swiftly and assist with QPS (Queensland Police Service) investigations,” Ms Taylor-Smith said.

Originally published as Stolen ute hits shopping centre overnight