Ram raid crime spree: Northern Gold Coast businesses left nursing painful losses

Increasingly well organised raiders have left Gold Coast businesses nursing painful losses, with one hit twice in just five days. Here’s what we know about those responsible.

Gold Coast retailers hammered by a smash-and-grab ram raid spree – including seven service stations in 70 minutes – warn the culprits are “very organised”, disable CCTV and are at large.

The two-week string of raids across northern suburbs in many cases involved cuts to power to knock out security systems before breaking through doors and grabbing stock.

Among businesses targeted were:

* A tool shop and vape store raided in the early hours of Thursday November 16.

* Officeworks and AutoBarn stores broken into late on Sunday, November 19.

* Seven service stations broken into in 70 minutes between 1.50am and 3am on Wednesday November 22.

Police are investigating potential links between the raids where high-value items including tools, car audio systems and vapes have been targeted.

Autobarn Upper Coomera owner Ryan Belovari with new bollards he has had installed after the business was ram-raided twice in five days. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Autobarn Upper Coomera owner Ryan Belovari said he was tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket after raiders struck his business twice in five days.

“We’re still going through it at the moment, but they probably got 25 grand worth (of products),” Mr Belovari said.

“They targeted car audio.”

Mr Belovari said his store was first struck at 1am on Wednesday, November 15. Thieves first cut power to disable CCTV and ram-raided his store using a truck stolen from a small business in Pimpama hours earlier.

The Pimpama business also had its CCTV disabled and two other vehicles were badly damaged.

The stolen truck was later found burnt out near a Carrara golf course.

A truck found burnt out in Carrara which is believed to have been used to ram raid the Auto Barn store in Upper Coomera. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News.

Mr Belovari’s store was again targeted at 11pm the next Sunday, an hour after the same group is believed to have targeted Officeworks at Pimpama.

Unable to get his roller door fixed at that late hour, he spent the night at the business fearing more thieves would gain entry.

“It’s our family business,” he said. “It’s not so much money, it’s just the stress of going through it.

“Times are tough, let alone getting broken into.”

In addition to lost stock, Mr Belovari said he was forced to invest thousands to replace his roller door and invest in security upgrades. But he was fearful of being targeted again.

“We’ve put in some new stuff, new bollards, but these guys are cutting the power. They’re cutting bollards.

“They’re very organised. Apparently they were cutting concrete to get into the alarm system at Officeworks.

“There’s a lot of businesses out there that need to be aware what’s going on. Because it’s not getting much coverage. It’s pretty bad.

“The police are under-resourced. There’s just not enough of them. They’re busy with Schoolies.

“The Police Minister needs to do something.”

CCTV image from a raid on an Upper Coomera tobacconist on Saturday November 18. Picture: QPS

Coomera CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Corby said detectives were investigating possible links between similar crimes from November 11, when a Nissan Navara was stolen from a Von Bibra dealership. Det Snr Sgt Corby said the vehicle, found burnt out on November 19, was later seen at numerous crime scenes.

“There’s been some service stations broken into primarily. In some cases there has been a safe stolen, in another it’s cigarettes and tools,” he said.

“The businesses targeted were not open at the time. So there’s been forced entry – in some cases … through the use of a car.”

Police believe the same gang may have been responsible for break-ins at seven petrol stations between 1.50am and 3am on Wednesday in Bundall, Ashmore, Molendinar, Upper Coomera, Southport, Helensvale and Burleigh Waters.

They released CCTV video of a man they wish to speak with in connection with the incidents. The video showed an alleged petrol drive-off involving the stolen Navara.

Det Snr Sgt Corby said police were investigating whether there were links to a raid on a tool store and vape shop in Upper Coomera on Monday.

In relation to the Autobarn raids, a police spokesperson yesterday said investigations were ongoing and they were looking into links with the Officeworks break-in.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

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