Supermarket, petrol station and multiple homes targeted in crime spree across SEQ

Thieves have smashed their way into Gold Coast businesses and broken into homes south of Brisbane in the latest crime spree. See the damage.

Photos of a stolen ute in a ram raid at the Upper Coomera in March. Picture: Queensland Police

A group of young thugs have run riot across the southeast overnight, smashing into Gold Coast businesses and invading homes in South Brisbane.

The thieves forced their way through the front doors of the Coles at Upper Coomera about 12.15am on Thursday but were spooked by the intruder alarm, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said.

Police sources have told the Bulletin that the offenders were then captured on CCTV smashing into the neighbouring Ampol service station on Reserve Rd.

It’s understood the footage shows the security fog cannons activating once the intruders are inside and filling the store with smoke.

They left empty-handed.

Police sources say the same group are believed to have been involved in several break-ins at Coorparoo later in the morning.

“There are five homes we know of that were broken into,” a police officer said.

“One of the homes they (officers) responded to – they found a young woman on the floor cowering. She was inconsolable.

“She was trying to hide from the grubs.”

Damage to a tobacco shop at the Reserve Rd complex when it was also targeted last month. Picture: File

The stolen ute that was used to ram the front doors of the tobacconist. Picture: Queensland Police

The break-ins at Upper Coomera are the second time the complex has been hit in the space of a month.

In March a tobacconist in the complex was ram-raided with a stolen ute reversing through the front doors to the business.

The offenders tied a chain to an ATM and dragged it from the store before it was loaded into the back of the ute and stolen.

Police found the getaway vehicle about an hour later on Jourdana Drive, Cedar Creek.

It had been set on fire.

That incident, and the most recent break and enters on Wednesday, are being investigated by detectives.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said anyone with information or with CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.