CRASH ‘N BURN

Teen charged as gang goes on ram raid rampage

NORTHERN police have charged a 16year-old youth with multiple burglary and stealing offences in the hunt for a gang responsible for six violent business burglaries in the Launceston area this week.

Remarkable CCTV footage from one of the burglaries has helped police identify one of the alleged offenders and police are confident that it will help them to identify the rest of the gang.

The youth was charged with three burglary and two stealing offences, arson, destroying property, motor vehicle stealing and driving while disqualified.

The burglary spree came to a fiery end yesterday at 3am when the gang attempted to use a stolen car to crash through the front glass doors of the Southside Supermarket in Hobart Rd, Youngtown.

Detective Inspector John King said the gang was targeting businesses for cash and

had jemmied doors and rammed shopfronts and roller doors with a stolen car to gain entry in a series of break-ins that caused tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

In the Youngtown raid, the car caught fire, causing substantial damage to the store. It is unclear whether the car was set alight by the gang.

The same car, a white Toyota Camry sedan stolen from Mowbray, was used for all six burglaries.

The night of crime started when police were alerted to a burglary in progress about 1am yesterday at the IGA supermarket in Evandale.

A gang broke in and stole cigarettes and confectionery. A white Toyota Camry was reported fleeing the scene.

A second break-in was reported just 40 minutes later at another IGA supermarket — this time in Brougham St, West Launceston — which was clearly caught on new security cameras installed by owner Phillip McMullen.

“They knew what they were doing,’’ Mr McMullen said.

“The CCTV shows one offender clearly using a tyre wrench or a similar tool to jemmy open the front door. The door closes behind the offenders once they are in the store and they smash a window to escape.

“After attempting to unsuccessfully break into the ATM and the cigarette lockup, the thieves stole two tills which had very little cash.”

The Camry was reversed into the supermarket doors, causing extensive damage, before it was driven away.

The third burglary was reported about an hour later at the Southside Supermarket.

Police believe the same gang is responsible for raids on the Norwood IGA, Roadside Products in St Leonards and The Kings Bridge Bar in Paterson St in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Insp King urged business owners to store cash off site because offenders focused on businesses that they knew held cash. He urged businesses to upgrade CCTV, lighting and locks and commended the quality of the Brougham St IGA’s CCTV.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Launceston Police on 6777 3911.