THIEVES NAB HUGE CIGGIE HAUL
ANOTHER RAM RAID
A MEGA stash of up to $40,000 worth of cigarettes has been stolen from a Newtown supermarket, in what is the region’s second ram raid in a week.
Thieves driving a light-coloured ute reversed into the shopfront window of Newtown Grocery & Liquor Co store on Stinton Ave about 2.30am Saturday.
Detectives believe that two offenders entered the store and stole the large quantity of cigarettes before driving away.
Store owner Joel Williamson told the Geelong Advertiser the offenders had taken anywhere between $30,000 and $40,000 worth of cigarettes, in a raid that wiped out their counter shelves.
“They ripped all the drawers out and took a heap of the drawers and threw them in the back of their ute,” he said.
“They knew exactly what they were doing and were in and out in a couple of minutes.”
It is the first time the business has been targeted by thieves since opening in March.
Mr Williamson said the main impact was the damage to the shopfront as insurance would likely cover the cost of the stolen goods.
“Some of the local residents who live across the road heard the noises and called 000. The police arrived straight away,” he said.
“It’s very disappointing.” The ram raid comes after $10,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen from a Grovedale service station last Monday.
Three men rammed a fourwheel-drive vehicle through the Caltex store on Torquay Rd about 4.55am, destroying the shopfront.
It is not known if the two incidents are linked.
An investigation into the Newtown ram raid remains under way.
“Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detect- ives are investigating following a ram raid d in Newtown n overnight,” Vicctoria Police ce spokeswoman Kelly elly
Grindley said on n the weekend.
“As part of the e investigation, police will ill look into whether there are any links with any other incidents.” cidents ”
The Newtown store reopened about 9am following the incident, with a temporary boarded shopfront in place.
Mr Williamson said they had received an overwhelming amount of support from the local community community. “A lot of peo people checked in and made sure we were OK,” he said.
“Their support has meant a lot to us.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.