Key way to stop car theft
POLICE have defended telling Townsville residents to hide their car keys at night to stop their vehicles being stolen.
Townsville Assistant District Officer Superintendent Steve Munro said police advised people not to keep their keys in “clear vision” because it made it easier for a would- be thief to steal a car.
Speaking at the announcement of a new police beat in the Upper Ross yesterday, Supt Munro denied suggestions it was an unfair expectation on the community.
“You need to take steps where you put your keys somewhere where they’re not in clear vision because the evidence is clearly there,” he said.
“There are some disadvantaged people who break into houses, who steal the cars.
“That’s their only aim, that’s their excitement and it creates a whole range of social problems not just for the police but for the community.
“So our message is very clear about your house and car.
“Make sure you have your car keys somewhere secure.”
Burdekin MP Dale Last said people had the right to feel safe in their own homes.
“There’s no question crime prevention goes hand- in- hand with effective policing, but if someone is going to break into your home that’s the issue,” Mr Last said.
“The concern is whether our police have the resources at the moment to adequately prevent and address crime as it is. There is no better deterrent than a visible police presence.
“The Premier promised 53 new police officers for Townsville and we’ll hold her to that.”
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he had been lobbying the Police Minister, Mark Ryan, in order to gain more resources.
“I’ll back our police every day of the week to deliver more police like we’re doing today into a growth area such as the Upper Ross,” he said.
“As the Police Minister knows, I am constantly talking to him about backing our local police here in Townsville.”
The “super beat”, which will absorb the Kelso and Rasmussen police beats, will open early next year.
Supt Munro said a trial of combining beats showed improved results.
“We combined the Kelso and the Rasmussen police beats together and we brought some additional officers in,” Supt Munro said.
“It was highly successful and reduced calls for service. We were more efficient and basically we were meeting those community needs and seeing a reduction in some reportable crime.”