Putting lock on targets of theft
NO SUBURB is safe from thieves in Townsville, who go from home to home until they find one that is unlocked, targeting keys, wallets and mobile phones.
With a large number of the district’s nearly 4000 house break-ins and car thefts this year stemming from unlocked doors, Townsville Senior Constable Vincent Prasser decided something needed to be done to remind residents to secure their properties.
The Scenes of Crime Unit officer said property breaks and abandoned stolen cars were the “bread and butter” of his squad.
“(Unlocked doors are) giving the crooks an easy ride because they will randomly pick a street and they will basically go from house to house until there is either a car unlocked or a house unlocked,” he said.
“Unfortunately they do that again and again because they know that people will continue to leave their houses and cars unlocked.”
Funded by Neighbourhood Watch, Sen-constable Prasser’s Think, Stop, Lock initiative aims to remind property owners to secure their homes and vehicles.
The small sticker fits on the frame of a flyscreen door or on the door of a car.
“It’s just that little visual cue to tell you to lock up,” he said.
“Even if it means one house doesn’t get done over then that’s a good thing.”
Sen-constable Prasser said the majority of vehicle thefts stem from house breakins.
“That’s what they want, wallet, car keys, mobile phone,” he said.
“If you can prevent them from getting into the house, you will prevent them getting into your car. No suburb is really safe, that’s another message to get across.
“Because they will steal a car from one suburb and they will literally go shopping and the reality is they are clever enough to know that the new suburbs, fairly new, middleclass, chances are they are going to have money in their wallet.
“Chances are they know that whatever they find is going to be reasonable.”
The Think, Stop, Lock stickers are available from Mundingburra Police Station and will be given out by Scenes of Crime officers at an incident.
EVEN IF IT MEANS ONE HOUSE DOESN’T GET DONE OVER THEN THAT’S A GOOD THING. SEN-CONSTABLE VINCENT PRASSER