Lock in a far better start to day in car theft city

If you need to leave a car parked outside at night on the Gold Coast, you may be familiar with an exciting new morning ritual. As a resident of a property with a two-car garage and three vehicles, this columnist is part of the club. It goes something like this. Wake up, bleary eyed. Reach over and check your phone. Spy messages from neighbours warning that thieves have been active on your street overnight.

Head outside for the exciting task of checking whether your vehicle remains present, and also, if all its windows are still intact.

All going well your car will still be present and correct. But expect to repeat the game of ‘is my car still there’ some time next week.

There may, however, be some inexpensive steps you can take to ensure you’re one of the lucky few that never gets left without wheels.

Being the old-school curmudgeon that he is, this author has invested the princely sum of $44.95 in a wheel lock. Their old-fashioned and clunky nature means they don’t have the greatest reputation – witness how actor Greg Larsen used a wheel lock to such great comedic effect in TV series The Tourist.

But my humble wheel lock may be what’s keeping me on the road without dramas.

It appears I’m not the only one who is a convert to the merits of the devices, with a Repco representative telling Nine News recently that wheel locks are “in very high demand”.

The fact that many nocturnal car thieves are opportunistic underage offenders who like to be on their way quickly is part of the reason the devices are so useful.

Security camera video shared by an Upper Coomera resident a couple of weeks ago showed suspected thieves approaching her son’s car, spotting the steering-wheel lock and moving on.

“If it wasn’t on I don’t think my son would still have his car today,” she said.

But it’s not just the kiddie crooks who don’t like them. In the United States, a former car thief who claims to have spent an extraordinary 27 years in prison – not something that would easily happen here – went viral last month with a TikTok video advising car owners how to keep their vehicles safe.

“As you guys know I specialise in stealing cars and breaking into houses. That’s why I went to prison,” she said.

“To bring awareness, I’m going to give you guys three ways to prevent your car from being broken into or stolen, from an ex con’s perspective.

“Number One there’s something called a steering wheel lock.”

Yes, the things can be cut off with enough effort. But not many of the dopey kids hanging around our streets at night are going to bother. No more than they’re bothered to learn how to drive a manual.

Our TikTok friend also recommended wheel locks and a simple car alarm system – the louder the better. The alarm, though, might mean a couple of 3am wakeups. I’m not sure I fancy adding that to the morning ritual.

But if a steering-wheel lock can avoid a morning that begins with an empty space in the driveway, I reckon that’s $45 well spent.

“It’s arguably the most crucial decision the next council will have to make. And the most awkward.

WHAT TO ASK CANDIDATES

This column has no intention of advising anyone how to vote in the council elections.

But with campaigning now in full swing, may I be so bold to suggest a question to ask candidates, should you encounter one?

Number One, in this author’s view, should be what they would do about the City Plan. Specifically, how they believe the tens of thousands predicted to immigrate into the city should be accommodated – council CEO Tim Baker says we should expect the equivalent of the population of Hobart in the next nine years.

It’s arguably the most crucial decision the next council will have to make. And the most awkward.

Yet it’s not much spoken about.

If you do it right, your candidate may be forced to answer without knowing which of the two main camps you fall into:

A: The people who are deeply concerned about the housing crisis and want higher density development to accommodate the masses.

Or B: The people who reckon overdevelopment is killing the Gold Coast and would like to see the brakes applied.

Watch how they navigate the answer, trying to determine where you sit before saying too much.

This column has noticed in the last week that one prominent candidate has erected corflutes with pictures of a dog – one presumes it’s his – with the tag line that the canine advises voting for him.

One really hopes the debate reaches a more serious level in coming weeks. Because the city has some serious issues to address as it continues to grow.

If you do encounter a candidate, make sure to raise it with them.