Two would-be cigarette thieves have been arrested after their Saturday night stealing efforts were “derailed” by anti-theft technology, police say.
The 39-year-old Hadspen man and 47-year-old Ravenswood man allegedly targeted multiple supermarkets in West Launceston and Norwood over the weekend.
Police accuse the pair of smashing their way into the businesses in the early hours of Sunday morning to steal cigarettes.
“On both occasions, the men were unsuccessful due to new anti-theft technology,” police said.
The men were reportedly seen leaving the scene in a small grey Mazda 3 sedan and attempting to evade police.
They were eventually tracked to an address in Ravenswood and taken into custody.
The Hadspen man has been charged and held in custody, while the Ravenswood man was charged and granted bail.
Both will appear in court at later dates.
Anyone who saw a grey Mazda 3 sedan in the Brougham Street, West Launceston or Norwood Avenue areas on Sunday morning is being asked to contact police.
