Toowoomba store owner confronts teenager who tried to break into store on camera

A business owner has filmed the moment he confronted a teenager who tried to break into his shop, delivering a stinging take-down before forcing him to confess to police. WATCH THE VIDEO

A fed-up business owner targeted by youth crime took matters into his own hands when he tracked down a young offender and made him confess to police.

Gavin Bagnall, co-owner of Toowoomba’s 420 Superstore, posted a video to social media of his confrontation with a young man who was among four juveniles who tried to break into his shop on Sunday morning.

But the boy, who turned himself into police following the encounter, has already started to turn his life around, got a job, and apologised to the shop owner.

Mr Bagnall said he was sick of seeing his town riddled with youth crime, in wake of an elderly Toowoomba man being allegedly attacked by a group of juveniles in a robbery.

“You see everything unfolding and there is a massive onus on the system, it’s letting people down,” Mr Bagnall said.

“At the end of the day I believe I got a good result.”

About 1.45am on Sunday, a group of four youths allegedly tried to smash their way into the shop, smashing glass and damaging the door in the process.

The damage caused to 420 Superstore on Sunday night.

420 Superstore owners Gavin Bagnall (left) and John Nicholson. Picture: Kevin Farmer

They were unsuccessful and fled, but Mr Bagnall put a call out on social media for the community to help find those responsible.

“Didn’t take long for messages to start flowing in. He wasn’t very hard to find.”

Mr Bagnall and another man confronted one of the boys in his front yard and filmed the encounter, where the young person was visibly shocked and speechless.

“(He’s) been in our shop, we would have helped his family out, his little mates have just ratted on him,” Mr Bagnall said in the video.

“Bro you’re going to be f – king famous.

“He’ll be going down to the police station to confess his crimes straight after this.”

Mr Bagnall said that was exactly what followed.

A juvenile who was confronted by the owner of 420 Superstore on Toowoomba.

“We gave him the option to do the right thing. He was really apologetic and we have spoken to all their parents.

“He’s already found himself a job, too.”

Mr Bagnall, who is also a music promoter, said after speaking with the juveniles and their families he believed boredom was a massive factor of youth crime in the area.

He planned to set up some music workshops to keep kids entertained.

“I asked them why (they broke in), they didn’t even know why.

“(I said) If you needed a T-shirt I would have given him one.

“It’s all clout chasing, and that’s why they are putting it all on Tik Tok.”

A Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed two 16-year-old boys were “dealt with under provisions of the Youth Justice Act”.

Originally published as Toowoomba store owner confronts teenager who tried to break into store on camera