An 18-year-old service station worker fled through a back exit after two masked men confronted him with a sword and what appeared to be a gun during an armed robbery at Beenleigh.
The teenager escaped physically unharmed as the intruders stole cash and his personal belongings before fleeing in a stolen car, which police suspect may have been set alight at Kingston shortly afterwards.
Logan Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Inspector Ian Galpin said the young worker appeared terrified.
“Having reviewed the CCTV footage from the business, I’m confident to say that that young man was probably terrified,” he said.
“Everyone has the right to come to work and conduct their business in a safe environment.
“There’s no excuse for what this young man had to go through, and I wish him all the best.”
The incident unfolded about 1am on Wednesday 14 October at the Solo service station on Logan River Road, Beenleigh.
Three people arrived in a black 2025 Chery Tiggo, which had been reported stolen during a burglary on Sovereign Street at Flagstone two days earlier.
“Two males exited that vehicle whilst a third person remained within the vehicle,” Detective Inspector Galpin said.
“Those two males were armed with what appears to be a sword and a firearm, and they had their faces disguised.
“Those two males entered the business where they confronted an 18-year-old employee who thankfully was able to flee through the rear of the premises and was not physically harmed.”
With the employee gone, the pair turned their attention to the cash register and his belongings.
“The pair then accessed the counter where they stole a cash till containing a small sum of money and some personal belongings of that employee,” he said.
The intruders fled in the stolen car before police arrived and established a crime scene.
About 1.30am, officers were called to a burning car near the intersection of Curtisii Court and Third Avenue at Kingston.
Detective Inspector Galpin said investigators suspected the burnt car was connected to the robbery.
“We’re still conducting inquiries to confirm that vehicle was the vehicle involved in this offence, but we do suspect that to be the case,” he said.
Police have since charged a 24-year-old Loganlea man who was arrested in the car park of a business on Commerce Drive at Browns Plains.
He was charged with six offences, including armed robbery, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils, unauthorised dealing with shop goods and an offence relating to authority to possess explosives.
He was scheduled to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday 15 October.
Detective Inspector Galpin said it appeared the robbery had been planned.
He said detectives were canvassing nearby areas for additional CCTV footage and continuing their efforts to identify everyone involved.
Police are appealing for anyone with information or relevant CCTV or dashcam footage from Beenleigh or Kingston between 1am and 1.30am on Wednesday 14 October to contact investigators via Policelink on 131 444.
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