Zimms Corner owner counts cost after break-in and fire

UPDATE: ZIMMS Corner owner Olga Marr is counting the cost of a brazen break and enter and suspected arson attack on the Warrego Highway store.

UPDATE: ZIMMS Corner owner Olga Marr is counting the cost of a brazen break and enter and suspected arson attack on the Warrego Highway store she has owned for 28 years.

Determined thieves forced their way in through a rear window of an interim donga used as a shop front about 4am, stealing cigarettes and setting fire to the store.

Mrs Marr, who has owned the shop since 1991, estimated the damage bill to be about $40,000.

"What they have done is virtually shut me down," she said.

Zimms corner service station. Owner Olga Marr outside the building broken into and set alight . Thursday, 13th Jun, 2019. Picture: Nev Madsen

Toowoomba detectives have appealed for anyone in the area between 4am and 5am yesterday to come forward as part of investigations into the suspicious fire.

Four Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews responded to the property about 4.25am, and reported the donga was well-involved and gutted on arrival.

The blaze was extinguished by 4.55am but all stock was destroyed.

Mrs Marr said it appeared the offenders removed security mesh from the rear window on her office and smashed the glass.

Olga Marr's Zimms corner service station. Building broken into and set alight . Thursday, 13th Jun, 2019. Picture: Nev Madsen

She said once they were inside they stole thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes before setting the building alight.

"All my paperwork, all my information, all of everything is gone," she said.

It's been a tough few years for the small business owner with the Warrego Highway upgrades and stalled renovations on the larger shop.

"It has not been easy but we have had really good support from the locals," she said.

Olga Marr's Zimms corner service station. Building broken into and set alight . Thursday, 13th Jun, 2019. Picture: Nev Madsen

"We're going to close down for a few days until we can get another temporary shop going.

"I'd say we'll be operational by next week though."

Like other small business owners in outer regional areas, Mrs Marr has heard an increasing number of reports of shops and properties being targeted in break and enters.

"But when they do this (arson), you know, you lose everything," she said.

Report information to Policelink on 131 444.

Olga Marr's Zimms corner service station. Building broken into and set alight . Thursday, 13th Jun, 2019. Picture: Nev Madsen

EARLIER: A FIRE which destroyed a donga at a popular Warrego Highway fuel station is under investigation by police.

Emergency services were called to Zimms Corner about 4.25am with reports a donga at the site was well alight.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said four crews responded and had extinguished the blaze by 4.55am.

She said all persons were accounted for but the 15m x 2.4m donga, at the rear of the property, was extensively damaged.

Firefighters at Zimms Corner where a fire broke out about 4.25am Thursday. Picture: WIN News Toowoomba

It is understood it was used as an office at the site at the corner of the Warrego Highway and Kingsthorpe Haden Rd.

The spokeswoman said a QFES fire investigator had been sent to the property to investigate the cause.

Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch detectives are also investigating.

Originally published as Zimms Corner owner counts cost after break-in and fire