Staff at a Launceston department store have been left shaken after a woman was caught on camera allegedly assaulting them during a violent shoplifting attempt.
The incident unfolded at Target Mowbray on Thursday evening, with the woman seen racing out of the store pushing a trolley full of allegedly stolen goods, including an inflatable pool, clock, wall art and clothes.
In an attempt to stop the woman, staff followed her into the store carpark, where she allegedly began throwing brutal punches with her elbows at two of the workers.
An onlooker can be heard shouting “don’t f—–g assault her” to the offender, while others called police.
The woman then tipped her trolley into the ground, with good samaritans rushing to pick up the items and return them to the store.
She then left the scene before police arrived.
Footage shared to the Launceston Chit Chat Facebook group quickly went viral, attracting over 10,000 views in less than an hour.
“Don’t see a lot of staff these days doing what they did. I know they aren’t supposed to, but if they don’t who will,” one commenter said.
A police spokesperson told Pulse that officers were able to track down the woman’s location and visited her home later in the evening.
No charges have been laid at this stage.
