Masked youths take off with wheelie bin of stolen smokes from Yummies

UPDATE: Three masked youths were caught on camera filling a wheelie bin with stolen smokes while ransacking a store in Gulliver. SEE THE VIDEO

UPDATE: Three masked youths were caught on camera filling a wheelie bin with stolen smokes while ransacking a store in Gulliver.

The trio were captured by multiple CCTV cameras at Yummies on Mooney when they broke into the Gulliver store at about 3am on Tuesday.

Footage shows one of the youths approaching the storefront and aggressively begin pulling down a security grill while the others stand watch.

CCTV captured two thieves breaking into Townsville store Yummies on Tuesday.

The youths then begin to smash open the window and gain access to the inside of the shop, where they begin to steal cash and cigarettes.

The CCTV shows one of the youths using a crowbar to unfasten the cigarette cabinet and push it over before they begin furiously tossing smokes out the window towards the stolen black MG they arrived in.

One of the thieves then picks up a small pink wheelie bin from behind the counters and begins filling it with more smokes before they eventually flee the scene.

The youths used a wheelie bin to stock up their stolen smokes

Police are yet to charge anyone over the incident but have recovered the stolen vehicle involved, which was found dumped in Kirwan at 2am on Wednesday.

The stolen black MG was also involved in a robbery at Eleventh Ave, Railway Estate at about 10.10am on Monday and sighted in the area during a burglary on Mariners Dr, Townsville at about 11.30 pm on Monday.

The car was stolen from an address on Eyre St, North Ward, at about 11pm on Sunday. 

It comes after a GoFundMe was recently set up to help Yummies owner Kris Dingwall rebuild her business.

EARLIER: The heartbroken owner of Yummies — one of three Gulliver stores broken into overnight — is facing closure after thieves completely ransacked her store and took off with an estimated $7000 in cash and stolen goods.

Thieves went on a crime spree on Mooney St in Gulliver, breaking into Phelan’s Pies, the Espresso Bar and Yummies on Mooney, which copped the brunt of the damage, at about 3am on Tuesday.

Townsville police are still investigating the break ins and yet to charge anyone at this stage.

Yummies on Mooney was broken into and ransacked on Tuesday morning. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Yummies owner Kris Dingwall said she was “heartbroken” when she woke up to find her shop completely destroyed this morning after thieves pried open a security grill, smashed up windows and ransacked the shop for cash and cigarettes.

A tearful Ms Dingwall was still assessing the full extent of the damage when police investigators arrived to dust the scene for fingerprints at 8am.

She estimates the thieves took off with at least $7000 in cash and stolen goods.

“I’m completely devastated,” she said.

The mess left behind inside the store. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“We’re positive that all our cash is gone.

“This is a massive blow. I don’t know if I’ll be able to open again after this, to be honest. I don’t think I will.

“I think when the repairs are done, the landlord will probably get the keys back.”

“It was my whole life savings.”

Ms Dingwall, who has been operating Yummies for four years, said this was the first time thieves have managed to penetrate their security bars.

Yummies on Mooney was broken into and ransacked on Tuesday morning. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“I think they must have tied the bars at the front window to their vehicle and dragged it out because we found them bent,” she said.

Police said thieves also hit the nearby Espresso Bar cafe and used a brick to get through the front door and take off with a stolen mobile phone and petty cash tin.

Eyewitness Darren Lawler, who lives nearby, said he came outside to have a look when the shop alarm went off at about 3.30am.

“A person ran out onto the road keeping a lookout, and I walked over to the carpark and could see them in a stolen MG,” he said.

“They had a little wheelie bin out here that they were throwing smokes and stuff from inside the shop.”

Police confirmed the stolen black MG spotted at the scene had also been involved in a robbery at Eleventh Ave, Railway Estate at about 10.10am on Monday.

It was also sighted in the area during a burglary on Mariners Dr, Townsville at about 11.30pm on Monday.

The MG was stolen from an address on Eyre St, North Ward at about 11pm on Sunday.

The Espresso Bar was also broken into. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Originally published as Masked youths take off with wheelie bin of stolen smokes from Yummies