A number of teenagers have been charged over an alleged string of armed robberies across Brisbane, Logan, and the Gold Coast during which a woman and her baby were injured.
Key points:
- Two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old have been arrested following a crime spree
- The armed robberies involving a stolen car allegedly occurred in Brisbane, Logan, and the Gold Coast
- Police say it was a “horrible thing that just kept going and going”
Police allege that just before 3:30am on Sunday a boy entered a service station on Gardiner Road, Holmview, and threatened an attendant with a gun.
The attendant was not injured and handed over the contents of the till.
The boy allegedly left the scene in a blue 2014 Audi S3 which had been reported stolen from a Clover Way property in Helensvale on Saturday night.
Police further allege that at around 3:35am on Sunday a boy armed with a gun stole the cash register from a service station at Juers Road, Kingston, before leaving in the same car.
The group then allegedly robbed a cafe at Alexandria Street in Ascot before travelling to the Gold Coast.
Acting Chief Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said the car was tracked “up and down the M1” with the Polair helicopter.
“Until around about 9:30 we’ve seen it heading on the Pacific Highway near Coomera,” he said.
“It’s actually crashed into the rear of a member of the public’s [car] and kept going on Foxwell Road.
“At 10am were able to successfully sting the vehicle up [with road spikes] at Logan and it came to a stop on George Street.”
Acting Chief Superintendent Sheldon said a boy ran from the car with a rifle into nearby bushes, but was arrested.
“Two people jumped out on foot and whilst running away knocked over a lady who was carrying a baby. The baby got a small cut to its head,” he said.
“It’s just one of those horrible things that just kept going and going.”
He said the two boys were also arrested and no-one else was injured.
“The rifle was real, where the boy ran off into the bush, but there were two gel blasters in the glove box,” Acting Chief Superintendent Sheldon said.
“Not real firearms, but that doesn’t make it any safer if you’re going to present that to a police officer.”
A 15-year-old Crestmead boy has been charged with one count each of enter dwelling and commit an indictable offence, unlawful use of motor vehicle, and armed robbery.
Another 15-year-old boy from Coomera has been charged with one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle and dangerous operation of a vehicle.
A 14-year-old from Eagleby has been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and receiving tainted property.
An 18-year-old Woodridge man has been charged with armed robbery in company.
He is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.