Arsonists firebomb Epsom tobacconist in Village Epsom shopping centre ram raid

Arsonists have firebombed a tobacconist at a popular Bendigo shopping centre after an unsuccessful ram raid — the first linked to the illicit smoke trade in nearly three months.

Arsonists firebomb Epsom tobacconist in Village Epsom shopping centre ram raid. Picture: Gianni Francis

Arsonists have firebombed a Bendigo tobacconist after a failed ram raid.

Crims set fire to the front of the tobacconist at the Village Epsom shopping centre on Howard St about 3.30am on Thursday.

The offenders attempted to crash a car through the front of the store but were stopped by bollards.

They then set fire to the front of the store before fleeing the scene.

It comes as a tobacco shop in Melbourne’s east, that only opened four days earlier, was ram raided and cigarettes stolen.

TZ Tobacconist & Phone Accessories in Ringwood was ramraided on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Thieves drove a car into the glass doors of Ringwood North Shopping Centre before reversing the vehicle into the shop’s security shutter.

The new store, TZ Tobacconist & Phone Accessories, opened on Friday and was targeted at 1.50am on Tuesday.

A number of people were involved in the Ringwood ramraid, police say. Picture: Supplied

Victoria Police said there were several offenders.

“Police are investigating a burglary which occurred on Warrandyte Road in Ringwood North on 25 March,” a spokeswoman said.

“Investigators have been told a car was driven into a shopping complex and reversed into the security shutter of a cigarette store about 1.50am.

“A number of cigarettes were stolen before the offenders fled the scene in other vehicles,” she added.

Thursday morning’s blaze became the first linked to the illicit smoke trade in nearly three months after a Chapel St tobacconist was targeted on January 15.

It was also the first fiery attack on a store since the death of Sam Abdulrahim.

The murder of “The Punisher” at Preston led to a significant and prolonged period of stability within the trade.

The firebombings seemed to have slowed since the death of Sam Abdulrahim. Picture David Geraghty

One theory was the main players were “putting their heads down” and focussing on their own businesses.

More fiery chaos had recently threatened to erupt before detectives made their move.

A Port Melbourne man is accused of standing over a Melbourne tobacconist in late February, allegedly threatening to torch it.

The standover man allegedly offered the worker $70,000 to take over the store before the threat to blow it up was made.

Detectives allege the standover man had been sent by the leader of a Middle Eastern crime syndicate overseas.

The Port Melbourne man remains in custody and is due to face court in June.

The Epsom investigation remains ongoing as the arsonists remain at large.

Anyone with information, CCTV/dashcam footage or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.