Police ‘not concerned’ about youth crime wave following Torquay break-ins

Police have assured the public they are continually working to fight youth crime after a teenager was charged over a string of break-ins over the weekend.

A teenager has been charged in relation to a string of break-ins in Torquay over the weekend which caused significant damage to three shops on the Esplanade.

A teenager has been charged in relation to a string of break-ins in Torquay over the weekend which caused significant damage to three shops on the Esplanade.

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said three shops on the Esplanade were broken into between 4-5am on Sunday, December 10.

Upon arriving at the scene police found the glass windows and doors of the shops were smashed.

MORE NEWS:‘Not a sport’: Inside the lives of Qld’s top pig hunters

Speaking to the media at Bundaberg Police Station on Monday, Detective Inspector Wade Lee said a teenager was arrested in relation to the incident on Sunday night.

Inspector Lee was unable to confirm where any property was stolen from the affected businesses, but said no vehicles were stolen in relation to the offending.

Police are also investigating an alleged robbery that occurred around 4am on Sunday morning, where two members of the public were approached by two young alleged offenders.

A QPS spokesperson said no arrests have been made in relation to this incident, and were unable to confirm whether a weapon was used in the robbery.

Despite regular reports of youth crime in Hervey Bay, most infamously, the Maryborough horror triple fatal caused by a 13-year-old boy driving a stolen vehicle in April 2023, Inspector Lee said police did not hold the view that youth crime was a particular problem in Hervey Bay.

Detective Inspector Wade Lee said police did not hold the view that youth crime was a particular problem in Hervey Bay, but called on the community to assist with controlling the behaviour of young people over the summer.

While saying that police were “certainly not concerned” about youth crime escalating over the school holidays, Inspector Lee called 0n the community to assist with controlling the behaviour of young people over the summer.

“It’s a continual issue for the community ... it’s an ongoing problem and we’re addressing it,” he said.

“There are greater numbers in our community over the holiday period, so there is an opportunity for the community to come together and make sure that they are looking after each other.

“But we’re certainly not concerned (about youth crime escalating in the holidays).”

MORE NEWS: Nursing grad’s extraordinary turnaround in face of early failure

Inspector Lee also called for business owners to review the security of their businesses and consult with local police about approaches for minimising the risk of opportunistic thieves and young offenders.

“We would urge that they harden their businesses, so issues around CCTV and hardening the front of their shops could be something that can be considered,” he said.

“I’d also ask that they engaged with our district community policing and see if there are other strategies that they could address.”