Toowoomba crime: Teens carjack elderly woman while another pair commit violent home invasion

A woman who was an early target of the two girls wanted for the violent carjacking of a 76-year-old woman has come forward as police recover the stolen car, gather CCTV footage and close in on the offenders.

OFFICERS from the Toowoomba Child Protection Investigation Unit are closing in on the two teenage girls wanted over the violent carjacking of a 76-year-old woman in the Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre carpark.

Shortly after 4pm Wednesday the woman was sitting in her car, which was parked in the carpark of the Anzac Ave shopping complex, near the supermarket, when she was approached by two teenage girls.

They demanded she get out of her car and when she refused, she was pulled from the vehicle, and punched several times before the pair sped off in her car, heading southbound on Anzac Ave.

The woman was transported to hospital for treatment to injuries including bruising to her face and abrasions to her hands and knees.

The vehicle, a grey 2013 Holden Cruze hatchback with Queensland registration REA33, has been spotted at several locations in the Newtown and Wilsonton areas.

Police sighted it in Wilsonton about 11.45am on Thursday and it was later recovered at a Puma Service Station Taylor Street at 1pm.

The initial police report indicates the girls were attempting to refuel the hatchback when they were confronted by a service station employee.

They fled on foot, abandoning the car.

Witness speaks up

Jessica Kramer said she was approached by the girls just minutes before they attacked the elderly woman.

“I’d been shopping at Clifford Gardens and was in my car, about to leave, when two girls - I estimated about 14 and 11-12 years old - came up to my car which was parked about three rows back from where the older lady was attacked,” she said.

“The younger one yanked on my driver door handle and when they found it was locked, the older one bashed on my driver door window before motioning for me to roll down the window.

“I shook my head at them ‘no’ and drove out of my car park bay and around the corner.”

Ms Kramer did a lap of the shopping centre before phoning the police to report the incident.

“I later learned from the couple who helped the older lady... that (the girls) took off in her car after punching her in the head several times,” she said.

“Honestly I’m still shocked over how young they were.

“They just looked like two kids out together at the shops, like the young teens you see wandering around Grandy on a Saturday.”

Both girls are described as caucasian, with pale complexions, blondish hair in ponytails and They include a home invasion that occurred in Top Camp on Wednesday

The initial police report states that two people, a male and female, knocked on the door of a Kearney Street home about 11.30am.

When a 65-year-old opened the door, the offenders forced their way inside the dwelling, located a set of car keys and ran to the garage.

The occupant chased the offenders and confronted them as they attempted to gain entry to his vehicle.

In response the male offender belted the occupant in the face with what is suspected to be a plastic baton, before fleeing on foot.

The offenders are described as being in their late teens or early 20s.

Police have arrested two 17-year-old boys in connection to a violent attempted robbery in Middle Ridge where a 89-year-old man was pushed to the ground, about 6.45am on Tuesday.

One of the teens was held in custody while his co-accused was granted bail in the Toowoomba Childrens Court on Wednesday.

If you have information about any of the offences phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.