Every suburb listed: Car theft crime wave sweeping Gold Coast

The rate of car theft is reaching worrying new highs on the Gold Coast, with even the Police Minister saying the figures are a concern. See how bad the problem is in your suburb.

Car theft on the Gold Coast is reaching extraordinary new highs, with almost as many cars stolen in the first seven months of this year as in the whole of 2015.

Remarkable new figures released by police show 1553 vehicle thefts had been reported by the end of July this year, with numbers up in almost every suburb.

Worst-hit Southport saw 142 vehicles stolen in the period. If cars continue to be stolen at the same rate for the rest of the year, the figure would reach 243 – a big jump on the 202 cars stolen in the area in 2022.

Similar trends can be seen in many other suburbs across the city.

Some of the biggest jumps are seen in Robina, where 76 cars were reported stolen in the first seven months of this year compared to 66 in the whole of 2021, and in Helensvale, where the 48 cars stolen to July 31 compared to 53 taken in all of 2021.

A video grab showing youths stealing a luxury car from a Palm Beach home earlier this year.

Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles said the rise in the crime was being matched by police activity to combat it, with a “range of strategies” being implemented.

“Police are conducting high visibility patrols, undertaking intelligence-driven hotspot operations and working with the community on crime prevention initiatives,” he said.

“The majority of vehicle thefts are opportunistic, where thieves will target unlocked vehicles or unsecured homes, so we urge vehicle owners to ensure their property is secured at all times.”

On March 1 police launched Operation Victor Unison, which includes “extreme high visibility” patrols and “saturation patrol techniques” designed to disrupt criminal behaviour including car theft.

The patrols have seen 298 offenders hit with more than 400 charges, with more than 70 youth offenders facing more than 100 charges.

Police Minister Mark Ryan praised the efforts of officers, but said the rate of vehicle theft remained worryingly high.

“Police advise me that innovations like the extra funding that has been allocated to enable Operation Victor Unison are having a real impact,” he said.

“I am advised that the extreme high visibility police patrols are disrupting and preventing crime and providing an enhanced level of confidence to the community.

“The level of vehicle theft remains a concern though.”

Mr Ryan said courts needed to “do their job” and said police would continue working hard to combat the crime.

“The community can rest assured that police will relentlessly target those who engage in this type of behaviour,” he said.

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Originally published as Every suburb listed: Car theft crime wave sweeping Gold Coast