TERROR, FURY FOR RESIDENTS
A POLICE search is under way after a group of five juveniles climbed on to the roof of a Townsville business before running amok in neighbouring backyards, leaving residents feeling “terrified” and “furious”.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed it was looking for a group of juveniles after an incident in Thuringowa Central just before 1pm on Saturday.
It’s believed the group was causing a disturbance on Thuringowa Drive, before scaling a shop on the street and running around on the roof.
The youths fled when police arrived, jumping into backyards on neighbouring Tam O’shanter Drive.
Shantel Clarke was at home with her two children and four of her friend’s children when the incident was unfolding.
“I was inside babysitting when my friend arrived,” Miss Clarke said.
“I heard her say ‘who are you and what are you doing?’. She pulled up just as they were leaving my backyard. I didn’t know they were out there. I grabbed my keys, told the kids to stay inside and chased them down the road.”
The mother-of-two said she was cutting across neighbours’ backyards in her car in pursuit of the kids as residents watched on.
“They were screaming out ‘we’re sorry miss’ as they were jumping fences,” she said.
“I warned a couple of my neighbours about them to be careful. There were people on the street watching because they heard me scream at the top of my lungs at them.
“One lady at the end of the street said she’d just kicked out two from her backyard. So they were running quick while jumping the fences.”
The 31-year-old said the youths broke her fence and went through her shed while they were on her property.
“Unlucky for them all that’s in there is rubbish.”
Miss Clarke said the experience had left her shaken and vulnerable.
“It’s one of the worst things that can happen, especially when you’re babysitting your own kids and someone else’s. It absolutely terrified me.
“I’m furious, mainly because my nieces and nephews were all out the back eating ice cream five minutes before they were in the yard.
“If they were out there when they jumped the fence they would have been traumatised.
“I’m going to get my friend to nail barbed wire into the top of my fence so if they ever jump down on it again they will get a big surprise.”