Moey’s Butcher and Grill, Springfield Lakes Blvd businesses broken into

A chef gallantly chased away a gang of thieves after they caused thousands of dollars in damage. Police suspect the offenders were using a stolen car.

Some of the damage done to Springfield Lakes business Moey's Butcher and Grill in the early hours of August 31.

A chef cooking curry late into the night has reportedly scared off a group of thieves who smashed their way into several Springfield Lakes businesses this week, causing thousands of dollars of damage.

CCTV footage showed three people, whose faces were obscured, break into shop fronts in the shopping complex on Springfield Lakes Boulevard.

Police confirmed they were investigating after four businesses in the complex were targeted between Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

About $4000 worth of meat had to be thrown out as a display window was shattered.

Detectives are investigating whether the break-ins are connected to similar incidents in South Brisbane around the same time, with the group believed to have been travelling in a stolen car.

Moey’s Butcher and Grill owner Moey Altaaf Sharif said according to the CCTV footage he had seen from the neighbouring Punjab Curry Club, a group of three people had tried to break in to the two businesses plus the Getta Burger about 3.30am.

Mr Sharif’s glass front door was smashed, as was one display window and the internal glass door between the butcher and the restaurant.

None of the meat in the windows was taken, and there wasn’t cash in the till so they left his business empty-handed.

“They’ve hit the front door with a sledgehammer,” he said.

“I think they’ve accidentally hit one of the display windows. I don’t think that was intentional damage. If you really wanted to steal the meat you would have just lifted it up.

“They lifted up the till to see if there was any cash underneath. There was nothing to take. I don’t think there was any malicious intent to cause damage. They were just trying to find cash.”

Moey’s Butcher and Grill owner Moey Altaaf Sharif.

He estimated about $6500 worth of damage was done to his shop but he was thankfully insured.

About $4000 worth of meat had to be thrown out as glass had scattered across it.

“We lost nearly a day’s worth of trade just cleaning up,” Mr Sharif said.

Mr Sharif said the chef at Punjab Curry Club started work at midnight and he heard banging about 3.30am.

“He came out of the kitchen and started yelling at them and scared them off,” he said.

It is understood a cash register was stolen from Getta Burger with about $500 of cash in it.

Mr Sharif, who only opened up his first business in April, said despite the destruction it had reiterated why he wanted to set it up in Springfield Lakes.

“The response from the community has been phenomenal,” he said.

“So many people walked in and said they were sorry.

“The community has gotten around us and supported us. Customers came in and started helping us vacuum and sweep, no questions asked.

“We had so many messages. They’ve all got big hearts. They’re all good and decent people. In such a bad moment we’ve seen so much goodness out of it.

“It could have been way worse.”

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam vision that may be able to assist with investigations is urged to contact police.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Moey’s Butcher and Grill, Springfield Lakes Blvd businesses broken into