Townsville car thefts fall 19 per cent but still on par with city’s second-worst year

Car thefts in Townsville have dropped by 19 per cent over the last year, but despite this improvement, offence rates remain nearly identical to 2022 — the city’s second-worst year on record for vehicle theft.

Car thefts in Townsville have dropped by 19 per cent over the last year, but despite this improvement, offence rates remain nearly identical to 2022 — the city’s second-worst year on record for vehicle theft.

The latest police data reveals that from January to September, the number of unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences fell from 1,341 in 2023 to 1,085 in 2024 — a notable 19 per cent decline.

While this marks a clear improvement from 2023, when Townsville recorded its worst year ever for car thefts with 1,942 incidents, the 2024 figures still mirror the concerning levels seen in 2022, when 1,084 thefts were reported over the same period.

The minimal difference of just one additional theft in 2024, a 0.09 per cent increase, highlights that despite progress, car theft numbers remain stubbornly high.

Superintendent Dean Cavanagh. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Townsville Police Assistant District Officer, Superintendent Dean Cavanagh acknowledged the ongoing concerns but assured the public that police are working diligently behind the scenes, employing advanced tools like helicopters, remote tyre deflation devices, and vehicle disruption systems to target car thieves.

“We ask for the public’s confidence in knowing that we are putting in a considerable effort, and it’s been extremely successful over these past eight months in stopping stolen vehicles and apprehending the drivers more quickly and safely,” Superintendent Cavanagh said.

Townsville’s broader crime statistics have also shown some positive trends, with other offences seeing reductions between January and September.

Break-ins, for example, dropped by 29 per cent, with 2,823 cases this year compared to 4,013 in 2023.

This was 18 per cent lower than the figures for 2022, when 3,448 break-ins were recorded.

Similarly, robbery offences have declined, with numbers falling by 19 per cent from 205 in 2023 to 165 in 2024.

Drug offences also saw a decrease of 16 per cent, with the number of cases dropping from 4,168 in 2023 to 3,493 this year.

Originally published as Townsville car thefts fall 19 per cent but still on par with city’s second-worst year