Businesses slam security after latest Victoria Point shopping Centre break-ins

Furious retailers have seen in the new year with the 15th break-in in 12 months, sparking scrutiny of the state’s new safety laws and ongoing concerns over security at the bayside precinct. VIDEO

The state’s new Making Queensland Safer laws have come under scrutiny after businesses at a popular bayside shopping centre were raided again this weekend.

A police investigation was launched on Saturday after thugs smashed their way through shops at Victoria Point Shopping Centre, leaving retailers with the expensive task of cleaning up a trail of blood, glass, and replacing front windows.

It was the 15th time in a 12-month period retailers at the precinct have woken to the devastating news their outlets had been wrecked and the second time since December, when the new laws were introduced.

CCTV footage from a Victoria Point hair salon that has been broken into for the fifth time in a year. Picture: Contributed

Hundreds of dollars in cash was stolen, along with a till, after offenders smashed through floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows at a barber, a hairdressing salon, and a sushi shop at the centre, owned by HomeCo, early Saturday.

Police have been called to the centre more than 200 times over the past 12 months, making arrests at the local bus stop, outside the all-night McDonald’s and near a lane which connects a residential street to the centre, which includes the popular Victoria Point tavern.

Police questioned a juvenile in August after the convenience store, the cigarette shop and hair salon were robbed but so far nobody has been caught or punished.

Police dusted a cash till for fingerprints after the businesses were raided this weekend. Picture: Contributed

CCTV footage from the latest raid on barber shop Sharp Cuts For Men shows a tall man wearing a white hoodie and track pants smash the front window before striding straight to the counter and opening the till before throwing the contents of some drawers on the floor.

He then escapes out a hole in the broken glass door.

Shop owner Mark Wainstein said he would be forced to replace his broken window out of his own pocket, with the cost expected to be about $2000.

Mr Wainstein said he was afraid to make an insurance claim as his premiums had gone up after previous raids.

He said he believed more could have been done to step up security at the centre, which is part of a 24-hour entertainment precinct that includes an all-hours McDonald’s and the Victoria Tavern.

The smashed plate-glass window at The HairBoutique at Victoria Point. Picture: Judith Kerr

He said it was unusual that no alarms were triggered during the raids which police will investigate.

Security has been a bone of contention at the centre since 2009, triggering a bitter court case in 2017 and an ensuing hostile stoush between the state government and the local Redland City Council.

The parties have bickered over patrolling a laneway which has been used as an escape route by offenders and where drug needles have been found and people have been spotted defecating.

Nearby residents have begged the authorities and the centre management to lock the gate into Teak Lane from the centre after 10pm, but Redland council has refused.

The popular Victoria Point Shopping Centre owned by HomeCo where businesses were smashed into on the weekend. Picture: Judith Kerr

After the last raids at the shopping centre in December, HomeCo vowed to take security seriously and step up night-time patrols but has refused to lock the Teak Lane gate.

In a statement on Saturday, HomeCo said, “We have increased patrols and security coverage to the centre.

“We understand community concerns and remain focused on supporting our retailers.

“We discuss commercial matters with tenants directly and have done so on Saturday.

“Teak Lane gate is a gate governed by planning laws. It is a matter for the council and we are happy to follow any direction by any authority.

“We are co-operating with local authorities and all their requests and will continue to do so.

“It is inappropriate to make any other comments until such investigations are complete.”

Redlands MP Rebecca Young says she will push for greater security at the 24-hour precinct. Picture: Contributed

HomeCo said it was also happy to meet with the state’s new Police Minister Dan Purdie and Redlands MP Rebecca Young, who was elected on her platform of youth justice penalties and “Adult crime, adult time.”

Mr Purdie was contacted for this story but did not respond.

However, Ms Young said the late-night raids were scaring retailers and their staff and responded to claims the new crime laws were failing.

“The Making Queensland Safer laws were passed in parliament on December 12, just over three weeks ago, and were introduced in the first sitting after the election and passed before Christmas, as we committed to doing,” Ms Young said.

“Our government has acted swiftly to ensure these laws provide police with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, placing the rights of victims ahead of offenders.

“I completely understand the frustration in our community — patience has run out, and hardworking businesses like those at Victoria Point have been deeply affected.

“While change won’t happen overnight, we’re confident that these stronger laws will have a lasting impact.

“I will work closely with law enforcement to ensure offenders are held accountable and our community feels safe again.”

A sushi shop was also smashed during the early morning raids on Saturday. Picture: Contributed

Ms Young said since the laws passed in December she had met with local police to ensure swift action was always taken after raids at the shopping centre and tavern precinct were reported.

A mobile police beat van has been stationed at the shopping complex since December to enhance visibility and deter further criminal activity.

The onsite mobile van followed a prolonged campaign by Teak Lane resident Maria Sealy and an August petition signed by 491 people lobbying previous Police Minister Mark Ryan to help reduce crime at the site.

Ms Sealy contacted Policelink after Saturday’s early raids when she noticed a young man throwing one of the stolen cash tills into the bush on Teak Lane.

Police data for crimes at HomeCo’s Victoria Point Shopping Centre for the year to December.

“Residents are terrified that these thugs are running around near our properties in the early hours,” Ms Sealy said.

“How much more do we, and the shopkeepers, have to endure?”

Police data for the year up to December 11 showed there were a range of criminal activities in and around the shopping centre precinct in 2024.

Police Department crime statistics from the Victoria Point Shopping Centre.

Leading the list of offences is “other theft” excluding unlawful entry, with a startling 50 incidents reported this year.

Those thefts typically involved opportunistic stealing of items from shops or personal property, raising concerns among retailers and residents.

Unlawful entry followed as a prominent issue, with 17 cases reported.

Senior police called for relevant dashcam or CCTV footage from the centre on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Originally published as Businesses slam security after latest Victoria Point shopping Centre break-ins