Senior police officer says wave of youth crime a ‘national disgrace’ as teens rampage across SEQ

A teen criminal using a family’s driveway as his toilet has police across the Gold Coast and southeast fuming - as an officer claims what caused a week of break-ins, car thefts and car chases.

A senior police whistleblower has labelled a week-long youth crime explosion a “national disgrace” amid a claim it coincided with repeat juvenile offenders released from facilities.

It comes as officers say they are struggling to keep up with workload particularly domestic violence callouts let alone extra youth crime incidents.

A Gold Coast senior officer told the Bulletin a spate of crimes involving teenage offenders started late last week and is continuing to escalate - moreso than usual.

“You’ve got attempted armed robberies, burglaries, I’ve lost track of the unlawful use (stolen cars),” he said.

“We are inundated with domestic violence calls for service that have to be attended – there is no extra capacity to deal with this.”

Teen criminals wanted by police over a string of break and enters across the southeast. Picture: Internal QPS intelligence report.

The juvenile rampage in the past week has stretched from the Gold Coast, north to the Sunshine Coast and out West to Toowoomba.

According to the senior police officer, the spate of offending coincides with the release of a number of hardened, serious repeat juvenile offenders from custody.

Since Friday multiple homes have been targeted by youth gangs. Businesses including a newsagent and two tobacconists have been allegedly ram raided by teens in a stolen RAM pick-up truck.

A youth gang also lead police on an hours long high-speed chase across the southeast in a stolen Audi, even bragging about it on social media, seemingly thumbing their nose at the law.

But footage of a teenager defecating on the driveway of a Runaway Bay home, during a crime spree on Wednesday morning, outraged officers the most.

Two juveniles wanted by Gold Coast police over the theft of two cars. Picture: Internal QPS intelligence report.

A Renault SUV stolen from a Logan car dealership which is believed to be linked to the juvenile crime spree. Picture: Internal QPS intelligence report.

“That was a national disgrace,” the officer said.

“Is that the message we want to send to the country? Our crime is so out of control children will rob your home and poo on your property?

“There’s nowhere to lock them up and that’s why they’re on the street.”

“Maybe it’s time we look at an emergency measure.”

Internal police intelligence reports seen by the Bulletin reveal additional resources have been called upon to try to catch those responsible.

Originally published as Senior police officer says wave of youth crime a ‘national disgrace’ as teens rampage across SEQ