Five vehicles used to smash stores in Thames mall

Ram raiders have smashed through a Thames shopping mall, entering through one set of doors and out another, causing extensive damage along their path.
The Goldfields Shopping Centre was alerted to a ram raid attack – which involved five vehicles – around 2am on July 6.
Mall manager John Freer told The Profile the assailants drove through the front doors by Specsavers before continuing down the concourse and smashing into The Warehouse. They then turned around, hit Vice Vape Co and a computer kiosk, and exited out of the main doors of the mall.
He wasn’t yet aware what had been stolen during the ram raid.
“It’s always been in our minds that all shops are targets. It’s really disappointing,” Mr Freer said. “I’m really surprised at the extent of this. The fact that people have driven in and have driven right around inside the shopping centre…
“What’s really concerning is we’ve got businesses that have been really struggling. It’s school holidays, which is when you get a spike in trade… and now all but three of our shops are closed.”
Mr Freer said some of the shops were run by solo business owners, and while he felt for the mall tenants, he did not “have a lot of sympathy” for the ram raiders.
“All the security in the world is not going to stop these people, we can see that. You can put big bars all over the doors and windows, and I don’t know whether they were opportunists, but obviously we’re going to have to relook at what we’ve got here.
“At this stage, let’s get through the current situation and see where we go from there.”
The McDoanld’s Drive-Thru, Goldfields Pharmacy, and The Warehouse are open while all other stores remain closed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said on Thursday that Police were investigating the burglary.
She said five vehicles were used to gain entry and were driven carelessly through the shopping centre.
“Significant damage was caused, and an unknown amount of goods and money were stolen.
The offenders fled the scene a short time later.”
Three vehicles involved have since been recovered and Police are continuing to follow positive lines of enquiry.
Police are conducting a scene examination and are working to identify and locate those involved.
DETAILS: Anyone with information that can assist Police with our enquiries is asked to contact us on 105 or online at ‘Update Report’ referencing file number 230706/3546.
Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.