Citizen’s arrest youth crims: Top cop says don’t intervene, wait for police amid juvenile crime wave
A senior Queensland Police detective has spoken out about the dangers of vigilante justice after two citizen’s arrests were used to apprehend underage terrors on the Gold Coast this week.
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A senior detective is urging the public to wait for police and not confront offenders after multiple citizen’s arrests on the Gold Coast during a wild festive season crime spree.
So far, construction worker Steve ‘Captain Underpants’ Middleton was lucky to escape with a hand cut after fighting off an armed trio scoping out his family’s cars. Soon after, e-commerce entrepreneur Bradley Cowper performed a citizen’s arrest in Ashmore of two teens in an allegedly stolen van from Brisbane.
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Knowles said residents should call police who are “equipped to deal with” potential offenders and wait, rather than intervene.
Delays in authorities arriving may present “an opportunity for (offenders) to escape” but he reminded the public it was for their own safety, he said.
Det. Snr Sgt Knowles said no amount of stolen property was worth putting your life on the line: “At the end of the day, a car is not worth somebody’s life.
“It’s too much of a risk to go and confront these people. You may be injured - or serious injuries may result to these young people, which unfortunately then lands that community member in trouble.
“Just don’t be a vigilante.”
His comments come in the wake of Brisbane mother Emma Lovell’s tragic alleged murder as she fought with home invaders.
Countless keyboard commenters have been threatening to take matters into their own hands due to the festive youth crime spree.
“Seriously? I can guarantee these magistrates are going to create extreme vigilante revenge (groups),” one wrote of a 13-year-old alleged car thief who was bailed this week.
“If this ever happens to me and the little delinquents get let off, I will do everything in my power to make everyone pay for their lack of due diligence to the community,” said another concerned Queenslander.
“If I caught him, he wouldn’t be walking out with the two broken legs I’d give him,” wrote someone else.
“(If) a 13-year-old tries that crap with my son in the house, he is getting hog tied until police arrive,” one woman said.
Police were doing everything to target “high risk young people” via a multi-agency response, and the best thing the public could do was make sure their personal and property security was up-to-date, Det. Sen Sgt Knowles said.
“Increase that security,” he said.
“We’re seeing vehicles being left unlocked with keys in the ignition, which is just an open invitation.
“Same with keys being left in the open inside the house and doors being left unlocked, which allows these offenders easy access.”
Mr Middleton, the dad who took on would-be robbers in his jocks at Mermaid Waters on Boxing Day, said: “We woke up to (the news) of that poor mother and we’re absolutely grateful that nothing escalated to that degree (here).
“My deepest condolences to the family, I’m so devastated. It’s the time of year when families should be together, celebrating and enjoying the holidays – this stuff shouldn’t be happening.”
On a post about Mr Cowper’s citizen arrest in Ashmore, commenters shared thoughts on “turning the tide on these kids”, with one woman saying it “looks like it’s the only way to end this ridiculous wave of crime”.
“Should zip tie them to a lamp post in their birthday suit,” offered another commenter.
“Should have broken his hand,” suggested someone else.
“If more of us took the initiative, it might help slow these pests to society down,” one Gold Coaster said.
“Public lashings for underage offenders will start reducing the toll,” wrote another.
“Unfortunately the law isn’t harsh enough to deter their actions, so we will probably see more of this,” one comment reads.
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Originally published as Citizen’s arrest youth crims: Top cop says don’t intervene, wait for police amid juvenile crime wave
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