WORST ON RECORD

ATTORNEY-GENERAL SNEAKS INTO TOWN AS CRIME SOARS

A RECORD-BREAKING crime spike is gripping Townsville, leaving residents in fear and working police to the bone as they battle the worst property crime rates in 20 years. Queensland Police data from February revealed 625 reports of unlawful entry were made across the Townsville District, making it the highest number of unlawful entry offences ever reported in available records which date back to 2001.

The groundbreaking statistics come as no surprise to Acting Chief Superintendent Glen Pointing who, while not confirming the exact numbers, said crime was the highest he had seen “in a long time”.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the issue needed a generational response.

“We need to link juvenile behaviour to parents’ welfare payments to force them to play a role,” he said. “This means all levels of government need to be involved if we are going to put an end to the juvenile crime epidemic.”

The latest statistics are 18.5 per cent higher than the previous record of 527 unlawful entry reports in 2002.

In the week from February 26 to March 3, 226 incidents of unlawful entry were reported to police in the Townsville District.

These offences from the last seven days is almost twice the number of the lowest recorded unlawful entry rates for an entire month in October 2014.

Car theft offences are also the highest reported in eight years with 176 recorded in February.

A victim of one of these crimes, Sandra Kelly felt afraid in her Mount Louisa home after offenders tried to break in while she was on holidays.

“I don’t feel safe,” she said.

The 56-year-old returned from her holiday to find both her front and back doors had been tampered with.

She spent more than $300 fixing the damage, but thanks to her deadlocks, nothing was taken.

Ms Kelly, who lived in Townsville for 10 years, said the city had changed.

“There is a lot more children roaming around at night,” she said.

Acting Chief Supt Pointing said, as usual, the crimes were mainly committed by juveniles who pressured other children into their criminal ways.

“They get drawn in, but often they don’t reoffend once they are caught,” he said. “It’s that core group who continue to be a thorn in our side.”

Acting Chief Supt Pointing said the police should not be expected to tackle the issue alone. “It’s a community problem,” he said. “Not only us, but government departments and residents.”