It’s a crims Paradise Point
Thieves hit sleepy suburb
LOCALS of a normally sleepy Gold Coast suburb feel like they are “under siege” by thieves targeting their homes and cars.
Graffiti, car windows being smashed to steal property, hooning and homes broken into have spiked over the past two weeks, according to residents.
The escalation in offending peaked on Monday morning, when a police car was rammed on Rouen Avenue trying to stop a stolen Nissan Navara ute used by thieves who had broken into multiple cars in Paradise Point.
Acting Inspector Paul James said no officers were injured in the incident.
“The vehicle accelerated towards them (Runaway Bay police) and collided with the front of the police car,” Insp James said.
“There has been recent increase in vehicles broken into in the Paradise Point, Coombabah and Hollywell areas.
“Property consisting of wallets, cash and handbags are being stolen.”
The problem has become significant enough for local doctor Michelle Groves, who herself has been targeted four times, to warn elderly patients to be safe in the area.
“I was woken up (at 2.30am Tuesday) by a noisy car, and I look out the window there was flashlights in our ute in the driveway and they ransacked our car.
“The neighbours either side of us who are elderly have been targeted a few times as well, and in Paradise Point there have been tonnes of cars targeted in a night. It’s just getting out of control.”
In a matter of months April and Chantell Slessor have had people break in through their roof, doors, windows and steal clothes off their line. Now the couple are moving out of “unsafe” suburb.
“We have eight cameras set up around our house trying to catch these people,” April said.
“They’ve broken in and stolen medication and jewellery, things they could either use or sell quickly.
“They would also do stuff just to make sure we know they were here, drawing on the walls, cutting screens. It’s such a violation and these people have such a hold on this suburb at the moment, we’re under siege.”
She said it appeared these thieves were targeting vulnerable people, the elderly, young women and people who live alone.
“It’s sad, but what can we do? We can’t be home 24 hours a day to make sure it’s not getting broken into and a lot of people we talk to are feeling the same way.”
THEY WOULD ALSO DO STUFF JUST TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THEY WERE HERE, DRAWING ON THE WALLS, CUTTING SCREENS. IT’S SUCH A VIOLATION AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A HOLD ON THIS SUBURB AT THE MOMENT, WE’RE UNDER SIEGE
APRIL SLESSOR