’We are here fighting a war’: Gang smashes into Cairns Spar outlet
A gang of alleged thieves have smashed their way into several northern beaches businesses before making off with soft drinks and lollies and racking up a huge damage bill.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A gang of alleged thieves have smashed their way into several businesses at Holloways Beach before making off with soft drinks, sunglasses and lollies.
CCTV vision records the robbery taking place at 3.35am on Wednesday morning.
Store manager Paul Drabble said the group of four smashed their way into the Holloways Beach Spar and Richards Salt And Pepper Takeaway using a wooden board.
He said the alarm was activated and police arrived on scene quickly but not before an estimated $2000 in damage was caused to sliding glass doors of the shop.
“They used a board and smashed the glass windows, they took four bottles of coke, lollies, iPhone chargers and sunglasses,” he said.
“And they were using a stolen car.
“We worked out this morning they caused $2000 in damage for two bottles of coke, because they can.
“Staff have had to come in and clean up and we still have to trade. It’s just unnecessary damage for a bottle of coke and a pair of sunglasses.”
A boom box was also taken from neighbouring shop Richards Salt and Pepper Takeaway after glass doors were smashed in.
It’s understood the same group also broke into the Holloway’s Beach Laundromat on Palm St.
On Tuesday every daily newspaper in Queensland, including the Cairns Post joined forces for the Enough is Enough campaign, calling on the government and the Opposition to transparently publish the rate of youth reoffending, Indigenous young people in detention, and the proportion of serious repeat offenders – with the goal of driving these numbers down.
Hours later on the first day of the campaign, a spokesman said the government was “happy to report on the outcomes” outlined – measures advocates described as “realistic and achievable”.
In response to an apology offered to Queensland crime victims by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the first sitting of parliament on Tuesday, Mr Drabble was unimpressed.
“The Premier’s apology is worthless to us,” he said.
“The politicians stand up in parliament and talk and we are here fighting a war.”
Police are investigating the reported break-in and initial investigations indicate that a person/people have smashed through the front window of the business and stolen property.
“No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to come forward,” a QPS spokeswoman said.
More Coverage
Originally published as ’We are here fighting a war’: Gang smashes into Cairns Spar outlet
Join the conversation
Video captures kids cracking home security in under 30 seconds
A video showing kid crims busting through the side door of a Cairns home in less than 30 seconds has revealed the vulnerability of security screens.
Read more
Win a Cape York trip of a lifetime during Sawfish Sighting Week
Tropical Far North waters are a haven for four of the world’s five species of sawfish and citizen scientists are needed to help find out how many of the critically endangered are left in the wild.
Read more