Why you need to lock your car doors on Gold Coast

Horrifying accounts from across the city have made it clear that drivers are in danger like never before, writes Ann Wason Moore. WATCH THE SHOCKING VIDEO

When it comes to personal safety, when does a positive perspective become positively stupid?

I’ve always considered my habit of leaving doors unlocked as a loveable form of laziness … my lack of effort is borne from a deep sense of trust in humanity.

But after a spate of incidents posted on social media, I’m beginning to realise that this trait isn’t so much endearing as it is idiotic.

While the days of leaving the house unlocked might have been over a long time ago for most, I live in a cul-de-sac where every neighbour knows each other and we all look out for anything suspicious on the street.

Unfortunately, it seems this is no longer enough now that ‘humanity’ is a little different.

In fact, according to state data from 2023, crime on the Gold Coast increased by more than six per cent just between 2022 and 2023, with the odds of becoming a victim of a property crime in this city at one in 23, compared to one in 28 for the rest of the country.

While I refuse to give up on humanity, those aforementioned ‘incidents’ posted on community pages have me ready to be a realist.

“This is a PSA for people that drive at night to always have their car doors locked,” an anonymous member wrote on the Mermaid, Nobbys and Miami Community Facebook page on Saturday morning.

“Last night I was driving home from work at 11.10pm and while at a red light someone tried to open my driver’s side door. There were no other cars or people around.

“I was about to just drive through the red light to get away and it luckily turned green. My doors were locked. I was turning right onto the Gold Coast Highway at Miami to go towards Burleigh (from Paradise Avenue).

“So this is just a reminder to always have your car doors locked.”

A youth is hurled from a vehicle at Robina Town Centre. Picture: Miami Residents Group / Facebook.

Given I struggle to lock my car when I get home, I have never even considered this. Maybe I’m naive or maybe dumb, but that was just never necessary in this city.

Or so I thought.

Because following that post came a flurry of comments from residents who had experienced similar circumstances.

“We had someone try to get in our car at Pacific Fair as we were leaving,” wrote one resident in response. “We were damned lucky our doors were locked (as) he had a bad record, police were called as it was time for staff to be leaving and they got him.”

“I live in Southport and certainly see some things – always make sure the doors are locked,” said another.

As the original poster wrote, perhaps there was nothing malicious in this incident … although they did point out that the person was walking across the intersection but changed direction to approach the car once he saw it.

The youth runs from the car after being hauled out. Picture: Miami Residents Group / Facebook.

Regardless, it seems we’re at the stage now where it’s better to be safe than sorry.

In fact, police recently urged motorists to lock their car doors while driving in the wake of violent carjackings across Queensland.

And that point was further proven with yet another anonymous member from yet another community group posting a video from an incident at Robina Town Centre, also on Friday night.

The footage showed two men pulling a younger man out of a car before the driver was able to drive away.

The younger man shouted he hadn’t done anything, while others accused him of stealing from the car, with the whole event – the younger man being thrown onto the road, his shirtless mate running over to yell, aggressive shouting between all parties – occurring before young children and families.

Whatever went down, locked car doors would probably have prevented it.

Look, I hate the idea of living in fear and, even despite these events, I don’t and I won’t.

I still believe in the relative safety of our city, in the kindness of strangers and that only a small minority commit the majority of these anti-social behaviours.

But I’m also ready to be a realist. So my heart will remain optimistic and open … but my doors will be locked.

Originally published as Why you need to lock your car doors on Gold Coast