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Thugs smash into Lynbrook Village Shopping Centre in early-morning ram raid

Thieves have used a car to smash into a Lynbrook shopping centre before stealing cigarettes in an early-morning ram raid. The incident has left traders and customers shocked

A security guard watches on after a ram raid in Lynbrook
A security guard watches on after a ram raid in Lynbrook

Thugs in an allegedly stolen vehicle have smashed into a shopping centre in Melbourne’s southeast in an early morning ram raid.

The incident unfolded about 3.40am when the car reversed into the Lynbrook Village Shopping Centre.

The occupants of the car ran into the store and stole cigarettes before fleeing in another vehicle.

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Lynbrook Fruit Plaza worker Zameer Abbas said several shops including the lotto and mobile phone store had also been hit in the past two years.

“Crime is getting so bad around here — my customers are even telling me that they’ve been robbed too in the past few months. It’s really upsetting,” Mr Abbas said.

Shopper Rose Ratai, of Lynbrook, said it was concerning that ram raids continued to occur at the busy shopping precinct.

The damage after the ram raid.
The damage after the ram raid.

“This is the third time in two years the smoke shop has been hit — it’s really becoming unsafe around here,” Ms Ratai said.

“They need to put the bollards closer together or this will keep on happening.”

Meanwhile police are also investigating ram raid and car jacking that happened in Frankston this morning.

Officers were called to a shopping complex on Cranbourne Rd, Frankston about 2am.

Four offenders reversed a ute through glass doors and tried, but failed to steal an ATM.

Detectives believe the same group then went to Humphries Rd, Mount Eliza about 4am, forced a man out of his maroon Ford and stole it.

The ute was found burnt out a short time later in Sybil Ave, Frankston South.

Victoria Police Leading Senior Constable Melissa Seach said investigations were ongoing.

Shopping centre management has been contacted for comment.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/thugs-smash-into-lynbrook-village-shopping-centre-in-earlymorning-ram-raid/news-story/e0bf1dcb728222a608ff61dbfdddb30b