QLD:Bikie taskforce probes Gold Coast shooting

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2011
QLD:Bikie taskforce probes Gold Coast shooting

By Tony Bartlett

GOLD COAST, Dec 9 AAP - Task Force Hydra, set up to fight outlaw motorcycle gangs in
Queensland, has joined investigations into a Gold Coast gym which was riddled with bullets.

The Serious Violent Crime Squad has also been asked to help look into the attack on
the First Choice Fitness Centre at Helensvale, which was sprayed with a dozen shots from
a high-calibre weapon late on Thursday night.

Police are investigating whether the shots were intended as a warning.

"The owner of the store is an associate of an outlaw motorcycle gang," Superintendent
Dave Hutchinson told reporters on the Gold Coast.

"We are aware of other incidents involving the business that could lead to this ...

internal incidents within the store related to staff members and disgruntled customers."

The shots punched through the glass doors of the gym and hit equipment and walls inside.

"It would appear to be a high-calibre weapon. We have ballistics police on the scene
at the moment, and they'll be able to give us a better indication of the type of firearm
that was used," Supt Hutchinson said.

The owner was cooperating with police, he said.

Meanwhile, police are also trying to find a frustrated gunman who caught the attention
of a Gold Coast shop attendant he was trying to hold up by firing a shot into a display
cabinet.

The bandit, aged in his 50s or 60s, was armed with a small handgun when he held up
two stores at Labrador within 10 minutes on Thursday afternoon.

During the first robbery, he fired a shot that missed the worker and hit a nearby cigar cabinet.

"It would appear, from the CCTV footage, the attendant may not have been aware of what
was going on because was busy, and he probably didn't give the person the attention he
was expecting," Supt Hutchinson said.

After running away with a small amount of cash, the bandit held up a bottle shop 10
minutes later, escaping with cash from the till.

"He doesn't fit the normal profile of an offender for this type of offence," Supt Hutchinson
said.

Neither of the shop workers was hurt but both were traumatised by their experiences, he said.

AAP bart/mp/wjf

KEYWORD: SHOTS WRAP (TAKES IN ROBBERIES)

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