Police are hunting a group of wannabe thieves over a brazen smash-and-grab at a tobacconist store on the Gold Coast early this morning.
The offenders targeted the Olsen Avenue business in Molendinar around 1am, allegedly forcing open a side door to break into the store.
Once inside, police say they smashed glass cabinets in a bid to steal tobacco products.
But they fled empty-handed, with an alarm and theft prevention devices spooking the offenders, who took off in a white Volkswagen hatchback.
The attempted robbery has left the owners of the store with a hefty clean-up this morning, with the gang causing damage to cabinets and the side door of the business.
They remain on the run, with police appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area at the time to come forward.
