A grandmother receiving cancer treatment has allegedly been targeted in a frightening armed home invasion in Springfield Lakes, Ipswich, with a 15-year-old boy now charged.
Linda Bray, 62, was staying at her daughter’s Jupiter St home while undergoing chemotherapy when police allege two offenders forced their way in about 3.30am on Saturday. Investigators say the pair entered the property armed with knives, then threatened Bray and demanded items from the house.
Bray said one of the intruders relied on a phone to communicate. “He wrote on his phone, ‘this is a robbery’, showed me,” she said.
Police allege the offenders threatened Bray with a knife and a meat cleaver while demanding money. Bray said they claimed there were four of them and that her family was being held hostage. “That to me rips my heart out, they’re my grandbabies,” she said.
The offenders allegedly stole several items including children’s shoes, a vape, a wallet and car keys, before attempting to steal a vehicle. Bray said they could not get far after realising the car had a manual transmission. “They moved it back about a metre and then obviously worked out it was a manual and there was no ‘just put it into drive’ moment,” she said. “That was the funniest part.”
Bray was not physically injured, but her family is worried the shock could affect her ongoing treatment. “These people could have just stopped you getting life-saving treatment,” her daughter Sabra Brookes said.
Police charged a 15-year-old Springfield Lakes boy on Monday afternoon. He faces two counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence, and one count each of enter dwelling with intent whilst armed and armed robbery. The matter is being handled under the Youth Justice Act.
A second offender remains at large. Police say investigations are continuing and are urging anyone with information, or relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact authorities.
