‘Not being heard’: Crims days from breaking Cairns stolen car record

Cairns police refuse to accept skyrocketing car theft rates as the new normal as crims hold the pedal to the metal of a new annual car theft record. WHAT COPS WANT YOU TO KNOW

CAIRNS police refuse to accept skyrocketing car theft rates as a new normal as crims hold the pedal to the metal of a new annual car theft record likely to be set this week.

As of Monday 773 were reported stolen since January 1 this year.

With four months of 2022 to run an all-time stolen car record of 782 set in 2021 is expected to be surpassed before the week is out.

Tearing up neighbourhood parks and burnouts at traffic lights have become common throughout Cairns.

Inexperienced and unlicensed drivers, at times stealing vehicles in bulk from rental car companies, are causing chaos on the roads and present a real danger to other road users and pedestrians.

But senior Cairns-based police officer, Detective Inspector Kevin Goan, will not tolerate unprecedented levels of juvenile car theft as acceptable.

“We should never accept this as the new norm,” he said.

“I have made it perfectly well-known that it’s extremely concerning to us the levels of unlawful (vehicle) use offences occurring.

“It’s concerning to us for a number of reasons, including the manner of driving that these young people engage in.

“We are obviously concerned for the safety of the public, other lawful road users who happen to be on the roadways at the time that these young people are driving around.”

The arrest of a 35-year-old Yarrabah woman on Friday in relation to a stolen Ford Mustang at the centre of an alleged police vehicle ramming incident is the latest case to make headlines.

“We see here again, though this (Mustang) incident on Friday that it’s with the keys that the vehicle was stolen,” he said.

The 2021 Ford Mustang boxed in by the Tactical Crime Squad at the Mobil servo on Cairns Western Arterial Rd. Picture: Queensland Police

Almost all cars stolen in the Cairns area are ripped off using stolen car keys.

Whether they be taken from a hook by the front door, from the vehicle’s ashtray, sun visor or tucked under the floor mat, gone are the days when car thieves would crack the ignition of a car in the street and hot-wire the vehicle.

Det Insp Goan said car owners just were not getting the message to secure car keys.

“It’s not being heard,” he said.

“Sometimes they’re left in the ignition, other times they might be left in the ashtray or under the floor mat. So people aren’t getting the message.

An allegedly stolen late model Toyota Corolla was stopped by police tyre spikes in Brinsmead earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

“We implore the public to support us by taking those preventive measures to make it more difficult for these young people to take the cars.”

Det Insp Goan would not say police are frustrated by motorists not heeding police warnings and failing to take responsibility for the safekeeping of property.

But according to law enforcement insiders officers are irritated that police were the butt of community anger when car theft is preventable.

Alleged car thieves in a Toyota Hilux do burnouts and run a red light outside Pillow Talk on McCoombe St in June.

“It’s a very complex issue,” he said.

“The public can play a part by removing vehicle keys from the site and or taking the necessary actions and at the end of the day ensure their vehicles are locked.

Another stolen car was recovered at Buchan St, Bungalow in June. Picture: Humphrey Hollins

“We all have a role to play in solving the offences and police have a role to play in solving the offences that have been committed.

“We are well above the state average for our clear up in terms of solving unlawful use of motor vehicles and recovering stolen vehicles.

“But this is not solely a policing issue. There are other agencies engaged in the work on juvenile crime and there are a number of service providers within Cairns who are also working in this space.

“And in the preventive space, we are looking at messaging to the community about how it is they can secure their properties.

“I would hate to think (current stolen car rates) as being the new norm.”

Originally published as ‘Not being heard’: Crims days from breaking Cairns stolen car record