Gunfire shattered the quiet of Cannington twice in less than 24 hours, with detectives linking two incidents targeting the same Cecil Avenue business.
The first shooting happened about 1.10am on Saturday, August 9, when police say a firearm was discharged at a commercial premises. Two bullets pierced a metal roller shutter and a glass window. Two off-road motorcycles were seen nearby and were last spotted crossing Albany Highway into bushland.
The following morning, around 4.10am, police received reports that two people in a black Holden Barina sedan fired shots at the same business before fleeing. A parked vehicle and the building were damaged. A 27-year-old security guard inside the vehicle escaped injury.
About 20 minutes later, the burnt-out Barina was found near the intersection of Mills Road West and Tonkin Highway in Martin. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
Police have since confirmed the Cannington shootings are part of a series of linked incidents across Perth believed to be targeting tobacco stores.
Later that morning, about 9.05am on Sunday, 10 August, a licensed premises near Illawarra Crescent in Ballajura sustained damage to an external window consistent with gunfire. A vehicle parked outside was also damaged.
In the early hours of Monday, 11 August, about 4.05am, emergency crews attended a small fire at a neighbouring commercial premises on Illawarra Crescent in Ballajura. No one was injured, and a white Toyota Prado with a black roof rack, black snorkel and black bull bar was seen in the area at the time.
About two hours earlier, around 2.00am on Monday, August 11, police and firefighters responded to a fire at a commercial premises on Pipit Close in Huntingdale. No injuries were reported.
Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Division and Cannington Detectives are investigating and believe all the incidents are connected. They are appealing for anyone with information, or CCTV or dashcam footage from any of the scenes, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit information online.
People can remain anonymous and upload footage directly to investigators via the WA Police link.
