Sunshine Coast supermarket break in: Teen girl, young man charged

A young duo has been charged for an alleged supermarket smash-and-grab as police warn of a rise in cigarette thefts for the black market.

A teenage girl and a young man charged over a break in at at Yandina's Seasons IGA have been linked to several other Sunshine Coast supermarket break ins, including one at Forest Glen (CCTV image pictured).

A young duo charged over breaking into and swindling thousands worth of cigarettes and tobacco from supermarkets have been linked to two earlier events on the Sunshine Coast.

A 19-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man, both from Caboolture, were charged after they allegedly smashed the glass front of Yandina’s Seasons IGA about 11.20pm on Sunday, September 10, and stole cigarettes and tobacco before fleeing in a Mazda CX3.

The same car was allegedly used to flee the scene of another break in at a pharmacy on Main St, Narangba, on Thursday, September 7. Police alleged the front doors to the building were smashed around 12.40am before medication and toiletries were stolen.

The 25-year-old Caboolture man was charged with one count of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break and two charges of possessing dangerous drugs.

The 19-year-old Caboolture woman faces one count of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break.

They were both remanded in custody and are due to appear at Caboolture Magistrates Court on September 20.

Seasons IGA, Yandina. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

Seasons IGA operations manager Bruce Goulding said around $45,000 worth of product was stolen, and about $35,000 worth of damage was done to the shop and its fixtures.

The thieves were in and out within three minutes, he said.

Mr Goulding said there had been eight similar break ins at other Seasons IGAs in the past 12 months, which had decreased the maximum insurance for tobacco stock to $15,000.

But worse yet, he said business costs were rising rapidly but prices were not increasing to match, causing loss.

“Then when (break ins) happen, it puts a strain on the profitability of the business to be able to reinvest into the business,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said the Caboolture duo charged over the break in had been linked to two earlier incidents at Maleny and Forest Glen IGAs.

Thieves broke into the Forest Glen IGA to steal cigarettes from behind the counter.

Forest Glen IGA owner Roz White said the thieves took about $15,000 worth of cigarettes and caused $25,000 t0 $50,000 worth of damage after they ripped open a roller cabinet door and smashed glass doors at the front of the store.

The Maleny IGA was broken into around 2.04am on November 20, 2022, where cash and cigarettes were stolen.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mansfield said the exact motive behind the spate of cigarette thefts was still unclear, but it was thought the stolen goods were being sold on the black market for an unknown price.

“If they’re stealing them for personal use that’s suggesting they’re ingesting quite considerable amounts of nicotine … One could only assume they’re on-selling them on the black market or to friends and family and the like,” he said.

The issue appeared to be a national one, he said, having seen reports of similar crimes in other states.

Unknown offenders allegedly breaking into a cigarette shop in North Buderim in November 2022. Picture: QPS

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie, a former police officer, said police numbers were being stretched amid a rise in crime.

Mr Purdie has begun holding crime forums with concerned residents, the most recent being last week in Peregian Springs. Another will be held in Bli Bli in October.

He said the Coolum Beach station was supposed to have 24 police on the roster, but are “currently running with nine”.

He said there were 30 officers at the Nambour station a decade ago, compared to 24 now.

Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie MP, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Estimates Hearing, Parliament House, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The population of places like Bli Bli has doubled,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone can pretend it’s a beat up, every indicator is showing crime is out of control and police resources have never been more stretched on the Sunshine Coast.

“Particularly when you look at that ratio of actual police on the ground to population.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said the Coolum and Nambour Police Complexes were both staffed 24/7.

The Coolum station had a staffing allocation of 26 officers and Nambour had 30, they said, though numbers fluctuate depending on illness, injury or other absences.

“Although additional resources are always desired, the staffing allocations for Nambour and Coolum stations are considered appropriate to meet the policing requirements for the locations,” they said.

They said the Queensland Government was making the biggest investment in three decades to deliver more than 2000 additional police personnel across the state, with a minimum of 150 extra officers delivered to each region.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast supermarket break in: Teen girl, young man charged