String of tobacco stores targeted by brazen thieves on crime spree

Three tobacconists and one convenience store in Queensland have been targeted by a group on a crime spree.

Police are investigating if the break-ins across Brisbane and the Gold Coast are linked following the incidents, which took place just hours apart overnight in Mansfield, Redland Bay and Jacobs Well.

The first attempted break-in took place at a tobacconist on Aminya Road in Mansfield around 2.30am, however the group were unable to gain entry.

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An hour later, police were called to reports of a break-in at Broadwater Terrace tobacconist at Redland Bay.

The would-be thieves triggered an alarm, which prompted them to flee the scene in a grey sedan.

Then, again at 4.20am, three people carrying machetes forced their way into a convenience store on Kumgum Street at Jacobs Well.

They fled the scene with cigarettes and cash after they were interrupted by the store manager.

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Manager Yatin Shori told 9News he managed to scare the group off.

"It was just because I was bare hands. I didn't have anything and they had like crowbars and stuff," he said.

"I was a little bit scared of my life, but you know, that's what you do.

"They took a lot of cash, I think, tobacco cigarettes."

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Police discovered another tobacconist across the road had been broken into while investigating this break-in.

The group remain on the run tonight and officers are asking anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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