Crime Scourge In Cannonvale

In the last two months, 12 businesses in Cannonvale have been robbed in a crime wave that is uncharacteristic for this usually quiet and peaceful Whitsunday suburb.

The latest in this series of community break-ins took place at Ride Whitsunday, located on Shute Harbour Road, two kilometres from the Paluma Road-Abell Road intersection in Cannonvale, on Sunday, July 2.

The alleged perpetrators smashed their way through the front entrance, breaking through the glass door allegedly using a brick or a rock, which was possibly taken from the garden bed outside the business.

Over $16,000 worth of equipment was stolen from the premise, including smith cycling eyewear, cash, personal items and two bikes.

A spokesperson from the business said they were devastated by the break-in.

“We have good (CCTV) footage of them, but they’re fully clothed with no skin showing,” he explained.

The morning after the robbery, the staff were not able to leave the building, as the locks had been destroyed.

“We can’t lock up,” the team member explained.

“We’ll be trying to clean up and organise and then try and track down the bikes.”

One of the stolen bikes is an Ascent Pulse 29 in Jet Black, and the other is a Turbo Kenevo SL Comp, a $10,499 e-bike that is currently not operational and cannot be used until turned on at another dealership.

Tasty Chinese, located on Shute Harbour Road, just metres from the Whitsunday Police Station, was another victim early last week, with only minor damage caused and a big clean-up for staff.

“We didn’t lose anything, just a mess,” said a Tasty Chinese team member.

These two incidents are the latest in a string of robberies that include nine business break-ins in the Carlo Drive industrial estate at the start of June and two separate additional break-ins at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, just weeks apart.

Whitsunday Police arrested a 29-year-old Cannonvale woman as part of Operation Mackay Irving, on June 10, and she was later charged with 32 offences, relating to break-ins and attempted break-ins at businesses and other properties.

However, the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre was subject to another break in last week, resulting in damage to exterior doors and office locks.

The crime wave does not seem to be limited to businesses however, with some Cannonvale residents taking to social media to vent frustrations and keep other residents informed of seemingly ill-intentioned trespassers on their property in the early hours of the morning.

One such post shared a clear image of a man walking onto private property at 3.33am and prompted others to share similar footage, potentially of the same individual visiting their home earlier in the week.

This post has been inundated with other residents sharing similar experiences.

“My car got broken into last night in Deloraine area – apartments! Keep an eye out,” said one post.

“I have had two break-ins and two small things stolen from my house in Cannonvale over the last couple of months. It’s horrible knowing that while you sleep, people are peering into your house. The police are trying to find some serial thief. At least they are patrolling, trying to catch the people,” shared another.

Police urge residents to remain vigilant and keep a record of any details, including descriptions of people and vehicles, times, and locations, in order to provide an accurate report for police.

Image captured on a home security system of a trespasser at a Cannonvale home

Ride Whitsunday is one of many businesses targeted in recent crime wave

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