Shocking figures sadden police

society,” acting Chief Superintendent Steve Munro said.

“Every time a car is stolen it impacts on people’s lives.

“It impacts on the broader community with insurance claims, but more importantly it impacts on the safety of the community when people are driving around dangerously with no concerns for the safety of the other road users.”

The crime map shows there were spikes in offending in December 2018 (111) and March this year, but a lull in July.

Police have previously told the Bulletin six cars stolen in a day from around the city earlier this month was “not unusual, but not normal”.

Warren Pye, whose wife’s car was stolen from their property and later found crashed on Beck Drive at Condon last month, described the ordeal as “frustrating”.

“We never did (think we would get our car stolen) because where we live it seems to be pretty quiet,” he said.

The owner of an Audi that was last month stolen from a Mount Louisa home and then “re-stolen” from a police holding yard told the Bulletin she had trouble sleeping since the thieves targeted her property.

“Knowing they were in my house and that they’ve had my car for such a long time and all my personal items, you know,” she said in June.

Acting Chief Supt Munro said it was disappointing police had to continually tell people how to live in their own homes.

“It’s sad that we have to continually message people to hide their keys in their own homes,” he said.

ANY AND EVERY CAR (STOLEN) IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IT’S NOT THE WAY WE WISH TO LIVE IN THIS SOCIETY. EVERY TIME A CAR IS STOLEN IT IMPACTS ON PEOPLE’S LIVES

“It’s sad that we have to tell people to lock up because there’s people within our community who have no respect for the rights and the privileges that we all should enjoy in Townsville.”