Doncaster East: cars parked at The Pines shopping centre targeted in teen break-ins

Teens have been spotted breaking into cars during the day at a Doncaster East shopping centre. The boys were seen smashing car handles and rifling through cars.

Cars were targeted in the carpark at The Pines shopping centre.

Teenagers have been spotted breaking into cars at a Doncaster East shopping centre in broad daylight.

A passer-by saw the young thieves running a lookout operation as they forced open car doors outside The Pines shopping centre about 5.10pm on Monday, February 24.

Chris from Templestowe, who did want his surname published, said he was getting cash from an ATM on the southern side of the shopping centre when he saw cars being broken into.

The cars were targeted at the southern carpark of the The Pines shopping centre.

He said he became suspicious when he saw two “little lads with bumbags circling the carpark”, and began watching them over his shoulder as he used the ATM.

Chris said one of the boys began forcefully yanking at car doors while the other kept watch.

“They were smashing up the handles,” he said.

Chris said the boys were targeting older cars without automatic locking systems.

“They knew how to get in,” he said.

Chris said he watched the boys rifle through a car and a van, before he ran at them and yelled.

A shopper says he saw teenagers breaking into cars at The Pines.

He said the boys then ran to a nearby bus stop, where a girl was waiting on her phone, and the three jumped on a departing bus.

Chris said he called police before he waiting about 45 minutes for the owners’ of the affected cars to come back.

He said one man came back to his van and confirmed the bag on his front seat had been gone though and money was gone.

He said the culprits “100 per cent weren’t over 18”.

Doncaster Acting Sergeant Lauren Morse confirmed police had attended the area after receiving a report of the incident.

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Acting Sgt Morse said none of the car owners had contacted police, and urged the victims to come forward and file a report.

A Stockland spokesman, who refused to be named, said centre management was not aware of any recent car break-ins at the carpark.

“Stockland has not been notified of any security concerns in the carpark at The Pines on Monday,” she said.