Smokey bandits caught on camera making off with $25K in cigarettes during service station heist

Two thieves have stolen an estimated $25,000 worth of cigarettes, after smashing their way into a service station during an early morning heist in Melbourne’s east.

CCTV footage captured the moment the pair used a sledgehammer to break into the Springvale Road service station at 1.15am on September 14.

The pair could then be seen clambering through a broken window, before jimmying open the station’s tobacco cabinet.

The burglars then proceed to dump about 1200 packets – worth an estimated $25,000 - into their car before making a speedy getaway.

Police are investigating whether the pair is linked to a gang of robbers who used doonas to scoop up thousands of stolen cigarettes during a series of smash and grabs across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs earlier this year.

“It was quite brazen and a well-planned attack,” Victoria Police’s Detective Senior Constable Chris Wickam said.

“It's obviously quite a lucrative market of selling cigarettes on the black market.”

Detectives believe the car used in the crime was a silver VX Holden, fitted with a spoiler.

One of the offenders was also seen wearing Adidas branded clothing and a hoodie during the break in.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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