Mermaid Waters youth crime wave: Residents forced to take action after spate of car thefts

Residents in a blue chip Queensland suburb are ready to take matters into their own hands after their street was hit with break-in after break-in by gangs of youths. WATCH THE CCTV FOOTAGE

Fed-up residents in a wealthy waterfront Gold Coast suburb will consider hiring private firms to beef up the security of their street, which has been targeted by youths going “car shopping”.

Residents in Avanti St, Mermaid Waters say they’ve become powerless to stop the repeat offenders breaking into their properties and making off with vehicles.

In bid to combat the growing problem, the residents have been forced to install extra locks and CCTV cameras at their own cost, and establish their own neighbourhood watch system.

Resident Graham Herlihy said he and frustrated neighbours would form an action group to look at solutions, one being potentially hiring security firms to monitor the street.

Break ins at Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast.

Mr Herlihy said at least eight vehicles had been stolen and taken on joy rides by youths throughout the past 12 months alone, plus dozens of attempted break-ins.

“It’s just crazy what’s happening here,” Mr Herlihy said.

“They tried to get in through our front door, and the dog went off, which saved us.

“We ended up chasing them down the street but they took off in another stolen car.”

Mr Herlihy said the group was not considering any vigilante means but said something had to be done.

“It’s a huge thing happening in Queensland, it’s just terrible,” he said.

“What are we meant to do?” Especially when these kids are carrying knives.”

Fellow resident Peter Allan said neighbours were “living in fear”.

He described the street as a hotspot for youths going “car shopping” for the likes of BMWs, Mercedes and Audis.

He said the neighbours were at a loss for what to do next.

“We have installed extra locks, set up our own CCTV, all out of our own pockets, but cameras don’t stop people coming inside your home,” Mr Allan said.

“This is a beautiful suburb. But it shouldn’t be like this. They’re coming every night and it’s only getting worse.

“Neighbours are forced to combat this. It’s scary.”

Break ins at Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast.

Fellow Avanti resident Ian Herd was another a victim of the youth crime wave.

Mr Herd said the youths broke into his home and rifled through belongings before they went on a joy ride in one of his cars.

The residents said they had sort support from local councillor Pauline Young and from Member for Mermaid Beach Ray Stevens.

However, they said they felt they hadn’t been taken seriously.

Mr Stevens denied that he had ignored the residents’ complaints, while Cr Young told the residents over email that it was a police matter.

Mr Stevens said he reported the matters to police and spoke to them on the seriousness of the situation.

“Of course I take it seriously,” Mr Stevens said.

“But the reality is, until the government change the laws, it will continue to be a revolving door of these kids getting no penalty.”

Mr Stevens said privately funded security firms and the installation of cameras to monitor streets would help curb the crime wave.

“All I can do is report matters like this to police, ask for extra surveillance and assistance, but nothing is going to stop these offenders,” he said.

“There are 100 recidivist juveniles from Logan to Gold Coast. It’s a problem.”

Mr Herlihy said he may not have moved into Mermaid Waters, where median houses prices are $1.5m, had he known of the youth crime crisis.

“It’s close to the beach, on water, just a beautiful area, but we did not realise it was like this, particularly on our street,” Mr Herlihy said.

“It certainly would have been a consideration.”