CRIME ON FNQ STREETS HOTTEST STEALS Top targets of FNQ thieves
SOME are highly-prized luxury sedans while others are everyday workhorses.
But according to the latest data, if you own one of these cars and a crafty thief nabs it, you might not be reunited with your pride and joy for a long while.
From muscle Commodores to reliable Corollas, the top stolen cars that police just can’t seem to recover in 2020 have been revealed.
Analysis of Far North police data shows that Toyota topped the list of unrecovered cars between January and August at 35, followed by Holden (15) and Mitsubishi (13).
The data, which is collected for suburbs between Gordonvale and the northern beaches from January to August, shows the Commodore and HiLux being tied as the most stolen – and still missing – make.
As for hotspot suburbs, Manunda and Cairns North are tied in the number one spot, followed by Cairns City then Mareeba.
Cairns Crime Prevention Unit acting Sergeant Heidi Marek said no-one was immune from car theft.
“Many people are of the opinion that ‘this will never happen to me’ or ‘I live in a safe area’,” she said.
“Police often hear ‘I’m a light sleeper, I will wake up if someone is in my house’.
“Sadly many people only start taking security seriously after their home has been broken into and/or their car has been stolen.”
In 2020, an average of 46 cars have been stolen each month, down from about 55 in 2019. Police attribute the decrease to COVID-19 restrictions and targeted enforcement.
“Car thefts have been on a steep decline since March, largely attributed to ongoing police enforcement action and the COVID-19 restrictions, which had many people staying home,” acting Sergeant Marek said.
“In July, only 28 cars were reported stolen – the lowest vehicle theft figure since June 2016.”
She also said that nearly every suburb was mentioned in the data.
“Car thefts are relatively opportunistic,” she said. “Offenders seek easy targets like unlocked homes and unlocked cars, stealing cars for joy-riding or to commit other offences.
“Car theft is often associated with other offences including burglaries, dangerous driving offences, property theft offences and the theft of fuel from service stations.”
She also reminded car owners to ensure that all valuables are removed from inside.
“Leaving wallets, laptops and even keys in a car is often a temptation hard to resist for opportunistic offenders,” she said.
“Ensure keys are removed from your cars. This includes keys for other cars that you may also have parked at your residence.
“Police recommend that car keys are kept in a safe place out of plain view.
“Opportunistic offenders actively seek out unlocked cars, unlocked homes and car keys that are left in easy reach, for example kitchen benches, key hooks and in handbags.”
TOYOTA 35
HOLDEN 15
*Between January and August 2020
MITSUBISHI 13