Crim cuts ankle bracelet off before alleged wild Ipswich crime spree

Confronted by a man fleeing police after he removed his ankle bracelet, an Ipswich mum froze in shock as she realised the brazen intruder was in her home metres from her daughter’s bed.

A man caused Ipswich families insurmountable heartbreak and frustration after leading police on an alleged wild crime spree through multiple homes.

The man cut off his ankle bracelet before allegedly breaking into homes, stealing, and destroying multiple cars in an attempt to flee from officers and the dog squad on December 19.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said no arrest was made and officers are “wanting to speak to a 38-year-old man who may be able to assist with investigations”.

The spokesman said officers attempted to talk to the man at a Brassall home on Atlantic Drive when he fled on foot.

One nearby family impacted by the thoughtless and destructive crime spree that ensued had their home broken into and two cars damaged beyond repair.

While Cathy Goodwin, her partner, and daughter, 13, slept, the man allegedly used a shovel to smash through a side door before creeping through the house stealing keys and a wallet.

“It’s so awful to know someone was in the house near my daughter’s bedroom and ours and the fact that he cut his ankle bracelet off – someone like that shouldn’t be allowed out,” she said.

Damaged caused to Brassall mum Cathy Goodwin’s garage after the man allegedly crashed her car through the door and into the families other car. Picture: Contributed

Ms Goodwin woke to the sound of a car crash at 2.30am and after her partner went to investigate he was quickly confronted by a man using their car as a weapon to smash his way out of the garage.

“He almost hit my partner, he just managed to jump out of the way in time,” Ms Goodwin said.

“My daughter was asleep on the other side of the garage wall and he kept smashing into that too.

“It’s so scary, I just froze.

“I’m just trying to forget. Every time I hear a hoon now it takes me back.”

Officers were already in the street searching for the man and saw him flee from the family home in Cathy’s car and smash into the family’s remaining car on his way out.

Road spikes were deployed, but the car was driven about 7km to Wulkuraka where it was dumped, and a nearby company Ute was stolen and later found in bushland at Walloon.

Ms Goodwin said the family is at a loss as to how they will manage the school run and work commitments without a car, but said the terrifying night caused a ripple effect that would take time to recover from and heal.

Some of the damage caused to Cathy Goodwin’s family car which was smashed up in the driveway. Picturs: Contributed

“It’s not just physical damage that was caused, my daughter hasn’t been able to stay home since that night because she’s too scared,” she said.

“And we couldn’t spend time with family over Christmas which was really hard.”

Ms Goodwin has since started a GoFundMe page for help to buy a family car, but said they are grateful to have jobs, a roof over their head, and food.

“It’s just not fair, we are extremely hard working and haven’t once relied on government support but we are left to spend a lot of time and energy dealing with the consequences,” she said.

“I understand there might be overcrowding in prisons and other issues but more needs to be done. This can’t keep happening”.