Teenager charged amid crime spree at Varsity Lakes

POLICE are investigating a crime spree in Varsity Lakes amid multiple reports of car thefts and unknown people entering yards.

Officers investigating the incidents have already made one arrest after finding a 14year-old girl in an allegedly stolen vehicle. Police found the girl in Epstein Ct at about 3.20am on Wednesday, August 11 while patrolling for two other cars stolen from an address at Yodelay St the same day.

She was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. The car she was allegedly found with, a Hyundai Veloster, was reported stolen from Bellbird Park, Ipswich between August 9 and 10. The cars stolen from the Yodelay address were a 2006 white Landrover with registration 664WJB and a 2019 red MG with registration 212ZEW.

The stolen MG was found undamaged on Shine St, Ipswich about 10am on August 11.

A police spokeswoman said other “suspicious activity” in Varsity Lakes was being investigated.

This includes three reports of people entering the yards of houses at Yodelay St and Darryl Dr between 1am and 3am on Wednesday, August 11. Investigations are ongoing. Division 11 councillor Hermann Vorster said residents were fed up with “troublemakers coming from elsewhere into their suburb to run amok”.

“These troublemakers are destroying property, stealing cars and ruining the reputation of one of the Gold Coast’s most family-friendly suburbs,” Cr Vorster said.

“In recent weeks, council has responded with a crime prevention through an environmental design audit of Frascott Park and surrounds and has already redeveloped safety cameras to help gather the evidence police need to find and prosecute these drop kicks.”