Morning Roundup May 24

Armed robberies, Morayfield and Narangba: Police are investigating two armed robberies within 30 minutes yesterday.  The first occurred at 1.55pm when two men entered the Jadin Chemist Shop at the Market Plaza on Morayfield Road, Morayfield and left after being approached by a staff member.  A short time later both men entered the store again and went to a staff only area of the counter.  One of the men produced a knife and told the female shop attendant to move away while the second man filled a bag with cold and flu tablets.  Both men then left the store and ran off towards Dixon Rd on foot.

The second incident occurred around 2.20pm when the two men entered the Narangba Valley Newsagency on Young Road.  The two men waited until the female store attendant had served a customer then produced a knife and held it towards the woman and grabbed a sum of money from the till and left.  The men were spotted getting into late 1990s blue sedan. 

The first man is described as Caucasian, with short dark brown/black hair, approximately 170cm tall with a slim build.  He was wearing a khaki t-shirt with a white symbol on the front and writing on the back, tan shorts with stripes down the side and sand shoes. He was carrying a long bladed filleting knife.  The second man is described as Caucasian with short dark hair, approximately 165cm tall with a slim build.  He was wearing a long sleeved zipper jumper with a hood and back shorts with light coloured stripes down the side and white runners.

House fire, Clontarf: Fire scene examiners will attend the scene of an overnight house fire in Clontarf this morning.  Around 5pm yesterday police and fire officers were called to a blaze at Cornelius Street after a man visiting a neighbour noticed smoke pouring out of the downstairs area of the house.  Fire officers managed to extinguish the fire. The residents had left the house about 15 minutes prior to the blaze and it appears a number of appliances may have been turned on.  Fire officers also located two kerosene lanterns in the room.  Police will guard the scene until further examination is carried out today to determine the cause.

Armed robbery, Kingston: Around 1.26 this morning two partially disguised men, one armed with a piece of wood entered the BP Jacaranda Service Station and demanded money.  The console operator refused to hand over the money and one of the men threatened him with the wood.  The operator again refused to open the till so the men took some cigarettes and chocolates from the display stands and fled the store.  The first man is described as of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander appearance, around 19 to 20 years old, 175cm tall with a slim to proportionate build.  He was wearing dark ¾ length shorts, dark shoes and a red and black checked hoodie style jacket and a scarf or bandana around his face.  The second man is of Pacific Islander appearance, 20-years-old, and 180cm tall with a solid build.  He was wearing ¾ length camouflage shorts, black runners with white soles and a light coloured long sleeved jacket over a hoodie style jacket with a patterned hood.

Robbery in company, Upper Mount Gravatt: Police are currently investigating the robbery of a 19-year-old man early this morning.  Around 12.20 approximately five to seven teenage males approached the man as he and his friends walked through the Garden City Shopping Centre at the corner of Kessels and Logan roads at Upper Mount Gravatt.  The teenagers in a red station wagon and a white hatch back demanded the man’s belongings.  He was punched in the face forcing him to fall to the ground where he was kicked several times in the abdomen.  The youths searched his pockets and took his wallet and mobile phone before driving off along Kessels Road. They are described a Caucasian males around 19-years-old.  One was over 183cm tall with short hair, another was shorter that 183cm with a tattoo on his left forearm.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Marine incident, Tweed River: Four SES members are safely back on shore after their boat overturned in rough waters on the Tweed this morning. Around 1.50am police were alerted that a SES flood boat working in the Tweed River had suffered an engine malfunction and had drifted through the bar and out to sea.  Due to heavy seas other vessels were unable to assist in a rescue and the Careflight Helicopter was put on standby.  A short time later police were advised that all four SES members had swum to shore on Fingal Beach.  NSW Police confirmed that all were safe; one person received a minor laceration to the head.  The vessel overturned in the rough seas and is still at sea.  The vessel will be retrieved today if conditions permit.