Reservoir Central tobacco shop Smoke House rammed as police probe crime link

A shopping centre tobacconist in Melbourne’s north is the latest store to be attacked, amid a string of firebombings across the city.

Police are investigating whether the Reservoir Central tobacconist attack is linked to organised crime.

A tobacconist in a Reservoir shopping centre has been rammed by a car in what could be the latest in a spate of similar attacks linked to organised crime.

The shopfront of Smoke House Tobacconist in Reservoir Central Shopping Centre was smashed when a car reversed into the retailer in the early hours of Tuesday.

A Reservoir shopping centre tobacconist has been rammed by a car.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said the attackers drove a car onto the footpath and into the alcove where the shop is located.

He said they then reversed the car into the shop, triggering the alarms, before fleeing.

“It’s a mess,” the owner said.

“They didn’t even take anything, they just ran off.”

The man said he was trying to sell the business and worried what this attack might do to his prospects.

The incident follows almost 30 similar attacks by Melbourne crime gangs sparked by the illegal tobacco trade.

Victoria Police wants the legislation around the tobacco industry strengthened after a war broke out between crime gangs which has seen 27 arsons in the past six months.

The state is the only one in Australia that doesn’t keep a register of businesses that sell tobacco products and there is no age restriction in Victoria on the people who sell cigarettes.

Meanwhile a laundromat in neighbouring Summerhill Shopping Centre suffered a similar attack earlier that day.

The laundromat owner said he was surprised his business had been the victim of such an attack.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a car reversed into the Plenty Rd shop about 2am.

“Officers believe the offenders made their way inside and attempted to steal a TV,” she said.

“They were unsuccessful in their attempt and left empty-handed.”