Thefts spike in ‘disturbing trend’

THE second quarter of 2021 has proved to be a popular time for vehicle thieves, with data showing massive spikes in the crime year-on-year.

Data from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council showed 83 cars were stolen in the second quarter of 2020 in the Toowoomba Regional Council.

In the second quarter of 2021, 143 cars were stolen – an increase of 72.3 per cent.

Thieves pinched 136 cars in the first quarter of 2021, meaning a total of 279 were stolen in the first half of the year.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said it was a “disturbing trend” and called for a crackdown on the crime.

Senior police in Toowoomba detailed their plan to curb vehicle thefts back in July.

It included extra bail and curfew checks on known offenders, and more police patrols in high-risk areas.

They also called on residents to play their part in reducing the chances of car theft.

“We are saying to the public to be more safety conscious about the keys to your vehicles – which is probably the second most valuable item of property that you own,” QPS Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region Mike Condon said.

“Mercedes, Audis, BMWs – they shouldn’t be able to steal these cars, but if they knock off the key inside a home then it is a free-for-all.

“They see a nice car and they follow it home.”

Thieves earlier this year were caught targeting highend luxury vehicles in the Garden City.

Car thefts were down 7.1 per cent between 2020 and 2019, dropping from 425 to 395, the data showed.