Cops blast dangerous vigilantes chasing stolen cars in night ‘It’s wasting our time’

A VIGILANTE who ran over a juvenile offender is one of multiple Townsville residents infuriating police as they attempt to take the law into their own hands and boast about it on social media.

The frustration comes after a 13year-old boy was hit by a car on Wednesday morning as he fled the scene of a stolen car wreck after a crash at Aitkenvale.

Multiple posts on secret social media pages indicated vigilantes were following the Toyota Kluger in the early hours of the morning and were almost run over in their pursuit.

Kirwan Police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said there was no indication the child was deliberately run over, but said the behaviour was extremely dangerous.

“They pose an immediate risk to themselves, by being run off the road or having an accident, or having to deal with the severe consequences of chasing someone at speed and potentially crashing,” he said.

Earlier this year, a man was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle after he allegedly rammed a stolen car being driven by juveniles in Stanley St.

The 48-year-old Hermit Park man claimed he followed the stolen Mazda

CX-5 after he saw a juvenile holding a knife.

While no one has been charged over the recent incident, Sen-sgt Brosnan said this behaviour interfered with police trying to do their job.

The secret vigilante groups are littered with posts indicating people planned night patrols, responded to reports of stolen cars and were often on the scene of a crash before police, who were bound by pursuit laws.

Sen-sgt Brosnan said police had often set out to catch a stolen car and pulled over a speeding driver only to find it was a vigilante chasing the real offenders.

“It’s wasting our time,” he said. “I don’t think they understand the risks involved.”

Serious criminal charges, including a jail term, and civil offences were potential consequences a vigilante could face if they played a part in causing a crash.

Sen-sgt Brosnan said some people had a skewed perception they were helping police.

He had even heard of instances where vigilantes tried to recruit others to join their pages, claiming it was “street justice”.

“Taking matters into your own hands will only end in heartache,” he said.

“Police appreciate people are trying to assist but let us do our job.”

Townsville Police were aware of the social media groups and encouraged anyone who observed crime to call triple-0.