Dramatic citizens arrest stops alleged would-be jewellery thieves

Three men have been arrested after a failed attempt to rob a Gold Coast jewellery store, thanks to the quick actions of shoppers who spooked the alleged would-be thieves.

A trio of alleged would-be jewellery thieves have been stopped in a dramatic citizen’s arrest on the Gold Coast.

The three men have been arrested and charged following the alleged failed attempt to rob a jewellery store at Westfield Coomera on Friday afternoon.

Queensland Police will allege the trio arrived at the shopping centre in a vehicle around 4.50pm.

Two of the men, aged 23 and 26, allegedly exited the car before trying to smash a glass cabinet at the jewellery store, using a tyre iron.

However a group of shoppers, including Brendan Dunleavy, stepped in to stop the alleged robbery.

“They got about a half dozen whacks in each before a few teenagers and adults ran from the barbers right next door and tackled them to the ground a few punches were exchanged from both party’s,” Mr Dunleavy told the Courier-Mail.

“By the time the two got out of the scuffle there was already 5-10 myself included members of the public forming a barricade between them and the shop.

Police arrest alleged would-be thieves at Coomera. Pic: QPS

“The 2 ran off towards the Costco car park a few members of public gave chase.”

The two men allegedly fled the scene on foot without any items before re-entering a waiting vehicle.

Police intercepted the vehicle on Creek Street a short time later, arresting all three occupants. No one was physically harmed during the incident.

A 24-year-old man from Mount Warren Park, who was allegedly driving the car, has been charged with driving without a licence, evasion offence in company, wilful damage and enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.

His co-accused, a 23-year-old from Coomera and a 26-year-old from Upper Coomera, were both charged with one count each of wilful damage and enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.

Witnesses later took to social media, describing how they had noticed the vehicle, a white Audi, acting suspiciously in the shopping centre’s car park prior to the alleged attempted robbery.

“I actually saw this car come up into the upstairs parking area. The reason I noticed that is that 3/4 of the way up the ramp the passenger got out of the car and leans over the side of the building looking at something,” a witness claimed on social media.

All three men have been remanded in custody and are expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on September 28.

Originally published as Dramatic citizens arrest stops alleged would-be jewellery thieves