Police have arrested a 29-year-old Edens Landing man after an attempted break-and-enter at a tobacco store at Ormeau and a break-in at a service station at Eagleby in the early hours of this morning.
At around 3.10am, police were called after two men used implements to attempt to smash the front glass doors of the Arthur Way premises.
They were unable to gain entry to the premises.
Around 3.40am, police were called to a service station at Eagleby after reports of the side counter window being smashed by three men.
The men gained entry to the Distillery Road address. At this time, it is unknown if any property was stolen.
Police attended the service station and located one of the men, taking him into custody.
Investigations are continuing.
The arrest comes as Queensland Police establish a taskforce following an increase in theft, arson and wilful damage incidents targeting vape and tobacco stores across the state.
Investigators established Taskforce Victor Masher to target entrenched syndicates involved in the coordination of offences of violence across Queensland with the aim to disrupt and suppress this offending, and identify organised crime syndicates behind the illicit tobacco trade.
The joint initiative involves the Crime and Intelligence Command and police regions to investigate and stop these offences.
Police have released the following vision of the arrest at Distillery Road, Eagleby:
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
