United Petroleum Noonamah ram raided by four youths in third break-in this year

CCTV has recorded the moment a stolen ute repeatedly rams a popular Top End service station, as the owner reveals the shocking toll it is taking on his family. Watch the footage.

CCTV footage of a senseless ram raid on a Top End service station shows a teenager filming three others as they smash a stolen Toyota LandCruiser through its front doors.

In the clear security footage, two bollards designed to protect the United Petroleum Noonamah shopfront fall like dominoes.

The blue ute reverses back and slams into the roller door.

Then does it again.

A youth, walking past the fuel bowsers, films it on their phone.

Eventually the group gets inside the shop through a tiny crack in the strong roller door that copped the brunt of the repeated hits.

Damage to United Petroleum Noonamah that will cost thousands of dollars to replace. Picture: Floss Adams.

The youths head straight for the cigarette cabinet with locks stopping them from getting inside before they rummage through the rest of the store.

Causing thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of seconds, the youths left with only a few handfuls of lollies, chips and ice creams.

Police have confirmed the ute was stolen.

Normally at 8am, the popular servo would be at its busiest but on Thursday morning its doors remained closed and the store off-limits to regular customers.

Owner Ram Kolan was there surveying the damage.

“Here, come have a look at the CCTV but watch your head,” he said, crawling through the gap in the roller door.

It is the third time in four months the store he owns with his wife Apoorva Chilukuri has been targeted.

Thieves smashed their way into the store in July stealing between $8000 and $11,000 worth of tobacco products.

Northern Watch Commander Alex Noonan said the ute smashed through two protective bollards before hitting the front door of the United servo at Noonamah about 11pm Wednesday.

“CCTV from within the premises shows four … youths entering the store and stealing a quantity of chips, lollies and ice creams before leaving in the Toyota LandCruiser utility,” Commander Noonan said.

Police arrived on the scene at 8am and began collecting forensic evidence; a scene all too familiar for the exhausted shop owners.

“We are doing repeated shifts over and over, yesterday I got sore back pain but I have to come,” Ms Chilukuri said.

“We leave our babies in India, we come here, work hard, we have to pay for the franchisee and then you know, it’s really hard, we do everything, we work really hard here and you know what you get? You get nothing.

“So how can we make a profit, it’s really hard to run a business like this … sometimes I feel so frustrated.”

Forensic police collect evidence at the United Petroleum Noonamah as owners Apoorva Chilukuri and Ram Kolan wait for the roller door technician to arrive. Picture: Floss Adams.

Ms Chilukuri spent eight months in India with family on maternity leave with their little girl born in September 2021.

But she came back to their business when her husband became stressed, working long hours to keep the shop open and serve the community.

Mr Kolan estimated about $800 in stock was lost in the ram raid and expected replacing the roller door would cost about $12,000.

He could lose between $3000 and $4000 in trade while repairs are done and police investigated, without factoring in fuel sales.

The damage caused by four youths who attempted to break into the cigarette cupboard. Picture: Floss Adams.

“I do have insurance but I’m still chasing up insurance from last month’s incident,” Mr Kolan said.

He watched as police dusted for fingerprints and collected evidence.

“The police spend a lot of time doing this investigation, do you think they are able to find those people?” Mr Kolan said, shaking his head.

“It’s a waste of their time and it’s a waste of my time.

“If people think nothing can stop them, they keep doing the same thing over and over again. Because there are no strict laws or rules or punishment.

The damage from the senseless ram raid will cost thousands to fix at the Noonamah servo. Picture: Floss Adams.

“If there is one more (break-in), I have to think and move to the interstate.”

If the roller door can’t be fixed by the end of Thursday, the couple will have to pay for a security guard to sit in and watch the shop overnight to make sure the same thing does not happen again.