Toowoomba police call for witnesses after crooks use stolen car in pointless Ridge Shopping Centre ram raid

Thieves behind the wheel of a stolen car conducted a ram raid at a popular shopping centre before making off with an empty ATM. Now police are hot on their heels.

Police have asked for witnesses to come forward as they search for two offenders who made off with an empty cash machine after they used a stolen Mazda hatch to force their way into a Toowoomba shopping centre.

Toowoomba Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said thieves entered an Oakey home on December 2 and stole a set of keys for a red 2018 Mazda 2 hatchback.

While the owners had stored the vehicle behind a locked fence this did not deter the thieves who returned about 4am on Sunday, cutting the lock and taking the car.

About 45 minutes later the offenders used the vehicle to nudge open the door of the Ridge Shopping Centre at Kearneys Spring, damaging it.

A 2018 Mazda 2 hatchback (similar to pictured) was used in a low-speed ram raid at the Ridge Shopping Centre on December 4 about 4.45am after it was stolen from an Oakey home.

“Once inside the alleged offenders have gone to an ATM, forced the machine from its stand and then left the premises with it,” Sergeant McCusker said.

“There was no cash in the machine.”

Police have reviewed CCTV footage from neighbouring homes and businesses and believe at least two people were involve in the profitless heist.

Sergeant McCusker urged victims of crime to take extra precautions if their keys are stolen as thieves will often return at a later date.

“It is a good reminder that if keys are stolen in the one break in it is best to store the vehicle at another address or immobilise it, if possible,” he said.

Anyone with information about the offences are urged to come forward. This includes anyone who may have dashcam footage of a suspicious red Mazda 2 hatchback.

Phone Policelink on 131 444.