Residents up in arms after crime frenzy
A CRIME rampage has left Townsville residents feeling fed up, terrified, injured and unsafe after a spate of incidents targeting innocent people.
Since Monday, multiple stolen cars have been spotted ramming motorists, ambushing a security car, tearing up parks and driving dangerously across the city.
One of these stolen vehicles, a Toyota Fortuner, has been at the centre of these incidents, and additionally was involved in a Douglas home invasion on Tuesday night.
Despite the carnage, the car has not been intercepted and those inside haven’t been caught yet.
Opposition spokesman for Police Dale Last said the loss of life to crime was the harsh reality of these offences.
“With every passing day, more and more innocent people are being targeted in Townsville and the first thing that Labor can do to address this is to actually show some respect for those victims,” Mr Last said.
The incidents kicked off on Monday night when the Toyota Fortuner crashed into a parked car, drove dangerously on the footpath along Bowen Rd and hit another vehicle.
Just hours later, Liberty service station on Charters Towers Rd was held up by a man with a knife about 10pm. He got away with money, but has not been found yet.
Early Tuesday morning, a security patrol car was ambushed and rammed by a Toyota Fortuner in Aitkenvale.
Later that day, the same car was involved in a home invasion at Douglas which left the resident and a neighbour injured.
About 5.30pm, five men entered the Riverbend Dr house and stole property before the resident tried to intervene.
The group fled in the Fortuner, but a neighbour tried to detain the occupants when it stopped to do a u-turn.
They received minor injuries, and police are calling for help to track down those responsible.
On Tuesday night, a food delivery driver was injured in an attempted carjacking at Aitkenvale after two men ambushed his vehicle.
He was assaulted and one
of the men got into the driver’s seat and tried to reverse away but collided with the outdoor seating area of the restaurant.
On Wednesday morning, the same Toyota was spotted driving dangerously, juveniles hanging out windows as it sped along busy roads.
It was also involved in an incident at Pimlico TAFE College, where a woman called police after a group of people sprayed her car with a fire hose. According to Queensland Police data, 73 cars have been reported stolen in the last month, which is more than two cars each day.
Mr Last said behind every statistic was a person.
“People are being left with financial and mental health burdens as well as, in some cases, physical injuries because of the actions of young thugs with no respect for the law and no respect for their community.
“Despite all of these victims and all of Labor’s talk, detention is still the last resort in the Queensland Youth Justice system.”
The latest crime spree comes after a 15-year-old boy who was involved in the carjacking of a 69-year-old woman, stolen car arson and a ramming was sentenced at court with no conviction recorded.
The boy was released on bail after serving nine months in pre-sentence custody.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he had a “strong view” that sentencing should meet community expectations.
“Serious offenders belong in custody, and we passed laws that said, serious offenders who pose a serious risk to the community should not get bail. The courts are independent,” Mr Harper said.
“Our government has given them the tools to hold serious recidivist youth offenders to account.”
Mr Harper said the recent spate of crime wasn’t acceptable.
“In regard to the recent offences, I don’t think this behaviour is acceptable at all in fact no amount of crime is acceptable,” Mr Harper said.
“Police will catch and find these offenders, place them in custody and before the courts. Like the community, I hope appropriate sentencing is applied in all cases.”