Suburb waiting for new beat cop
Recruiting delay blamed on COVID-19 as Holloways Beach crime rises
A RECENT spike in property crime at Holloways Beach has residents on high alert and calling for a new beat cop to fill a position that has been left vacant for months.
Between early June and mid July, 10 properties on Tamarind St, Magnolia St, Cassia St, Caribbean St, Poinciana St and Hibiscus Lane were targeted by thieves who made off with mobile phones, cash and a vehicle.
Former Holloways Beach beat officer Senior Constable Ben Dare left the position in March and a replacement is yet to be assigned to the post.
One burglary victim, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked to find out thieves had entered her Poinciana St unit while she and her two young children were sleeping.
“They took my phone. We were asleep and they came through the back window and that’s all they took,” she said.
Long-term Holloways Beach resident Wally Young lives on Jacaranda St next door to the neighbourhood police beat, which doubles as a residence for the stationed officer and the officer’s family.
“We’ve been here since a year before the police beat opened, and since it has opened, there definitely hasn’t been as many young guys roaming the streets as there used to be,” he said.
Mr Young said he would like to see a new Holloways Beach beat officer back in the area. “It does have an effect as a deterrent,” he said.
Straits On the Beach employee Gypsy Busato, aware of a surge in break-ins through social media, had been on high alert in recent weeks.
“My friend’s mum actually had her car stolen and she lives just up the road. I have a unit and my neighbour upstairs the other day said she scared someone away trying to open our gate,” Ms Busato said.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed Snr Constable. Dare was transferred on April 25 and a replacement was yet to fill the role. “The Holloways Beach community continues to be serviced by first response officers from Smithfield Police Station,” he said.
The spokesman said the COVID crisis had affected officer staffing across the state.
“QPS officers have been deployed from all police regions and commands across the state to assist with the policing response to COVID-19,” he said.