Cairns crime: Mum tells of frightening ordeal with juvenile car thieves
A Bentley Park supermum has used a mini-van to “ram” a car full of four alleged juvenile car thieves after she herself was rammed in a dramatic attempted citizen’s arrest on a quiet suburban street.
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A Bentley Park mum has used a mini-van to “ram” a fleeing car full of four alleged juvenile car thieves in an attempted citizen’s arrest on a quiet suburban street.
Cairns woman Natasha Baddock, 48, has told of her determination to “make a stand” for her Bentley Park street in the face of escalating crime, when she noticed a small car with four boys acting suspiciously on Friday morning.
It comes less than a week after Far North Crime Detective Inspector Kevin Goan described the surging crime wave terrorising the city as “significant”.
“I noticed there was a white hatch back near my neighbours and I just found it really strange, and alarm bells went off,” Ms Baddock said.
“They drove past the front of my house and we locked eyes, and I think they were frightened that I actually took notice and found their behaviour strange.”
They had every right to be frightened.
Upon returning from her kindergarten run, Ms Baddock again noticed the same vehicle loitering near a house with a sliding door and a fly screen “jimmied open”.
It was at this moment she decided “to shut this down”.
“They had been scoping the whole street out, it was the same car with the same four boys in it,” she said.
“I drove across the road and parked directly in front of them, about five feet away.
“They couldn’t drive forward, so I picked up the phone to call the police and they just rammed me.”
Instead of retreating, the super mum fought back.
“I just put the foot on the accelerator and I just drove that car backwards so they couldn’t drive off, they had already smashed my car,” she said.
“So they couldn’t go forward and they couldn’t run.”
But run they did, with the alleged thieves escaping on foot.
The incident was reported to police.
“I was just put in a position because of the lack of enforcement, really,” she said.
It’s a sentiment that is increasing across the city, with other residents taking a greater interest in local crime and safety.
Following a string of attacks and break-ins targeting the elderly, local crime advocate Paul Drabble is creating a citizens’ force — acting as a buddy system for the vulnerable and “footsoldiers for police.”
“It’s about being vigilant not being a vigilante,” Mr Drabble said on Wednesday.
Ms Baddock said “enough was enough”.
“I’m a pretty staunch woman and I’m a foster mum of six children, it is my duty to protect them,” she said.
“When it comes to my street and I’m put in that position, I feel I needed to shut it down.
“I had no choice so I just did the very best that I could.”
Queensland Police confirmed the incident, saying the white Toyota Corolla had been reported stolen on September 28.
They urge anyone who saw the car or the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Originally published as Cairns crime: Mum tells of frightening ordeal with juvenile car thieves
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