12-year-old Toowoomba girl confronted by robbers in terrifying home break-in

A 12-year-old girl was subjected to a terrifying situation when a group of young men burst into her home and made demands. Here’s a list of five suburbs targeted in nine burglaries just last week.

A 12-year-old girl who was home alone fell victim to a terrifying and invasive crime during a recent spate of break and enters across the city.

The Toowoomba Chronicle understands the girl’s parents ducked to the shops when the brazen break-in occurred on Sunday afternoon, August 20.

During the Middle Ridge burglary, the thieves demanded the girl hand over a number of items including her parent’s car keys.

Toowoomba City police station watchhouse. Picture: Peta McEachern

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said a number of items were stolen which included a Hyundai Santa Fe 2022, credit cards, and a man’s wallet.

Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said officers continued to investigate the crime and the car had since been found at Flagstone, on the outskirts of Logan.

A police spokesman another break-in occurred at a Middle Ridge business on Friday, August 18, and a number of items were stolen.

According to Queensland Police statistics, nine properties were broken into and six cars were stolen in the past week.

The cars were reported stolen from Nursery Drive, Middle Ridge, Louisa St, South Toowoomba, Ruthven St near Lincraft, Kelly St, Harlaxton, Seppelt St, Wilsonton Heights, and Tor St near the Wilsonton Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The homes and businesses targeted were at Glenvale, Middle Ridge, Harlaxton, Centenary Heights, and Toowoomba City.

Four of the nine reports occurred at Glenvale.

Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker. Picture: Kevin Farmer

At the start of August, Darling Downs police reported that over the past few months, there had been a 6.2 per cent drop in the number of cars reported stolen.

Local police implemented a number of strategies to address the communities growing concern of youth crime.

In the 2021-22 financial year within the Darling Downs City Patrol Group, 695 cars were reported stolen, down from 741 in the previous year.

Originally published as 12-year-old Toowoomba girl confronted by robbers in terrifying home break-in