Bundaberg business owner chases down alleged teen car thief

A business owner who chased a pair of teens down the street after they allegedly tried to steal a car in regional Queensland has said people are getting “sick of” the youth crime wave.

Josh French

A businessman who chased down a pair of teenagers allegedly attempting to steal a car has slammed the government’s inaction on youth crime.

Josh French, the owner of Bundaberg Pest Management, had barely had a moon boot removed when he saw two youths allegedly stealing a vehicle.

“They were scrambling and carrying on,” Mr French said.

He was quick to act, taking off after the fleeing teenagers and successfully performing a citizen’s arrest on one.

Despite his heroics, Mr French said the general public shouldn’t have to ‘fight crime’.

“It’s beyond a joke,” he said in reference to the region’s rising youth crime rates.

“Lately I’ve seen more and more.”

Josh French joined Stephen Bennett, Member for Burnett, to voice his concerns over rising youth crime rates. PHOTO credit: Amity Brand

Mr French said he was “sick of” the rising crime crates, and said he was worried about being punished for taking the law into his own hands.

“The public are worried about saying or doing anything,” he said.

State Liberal National member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett, said in a press conference on Wednesday that he had a “zero tolerance for youth crime”.

He said there were more than 200 car thefts across the Bundaberg region this year, up from 70 in 2015.

Mr Bennett encouraged victims of crime to speak out during an inquiry into the Making Queensland Safer Bill.

“This is about striking back against a youth crime crisis,” he said.

Under the Making Queensland Safer Laws, juvenile offenders convicted of serious crimes such as murder, manslaughter, unlawful striking causing death, grievous bodily harm, wounding, serious assault, dangerous driving, burglary, and robbery would receive the same penalties as adults.

Mr Bennett said the LNP planned to build youth detention centres in the regions and introduce youth camps focused on intervention and rehabilitation to help facilitate the bill.

“No one is suggesting there will be no crime, but these laws will start to restore safety to our community and mean fewer Queenslanders fall victim to crime,” he said.

The Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee is due to table its report on Friday, December 6, and residents are encouraged to contact their local MP past this date.