Torin O’Brien hosts public rally in Rockhampton against recent crime wave

An angry mob has roamed the streets of a crime-ridden suburb, confronting those they believe are responsible for car thefts and break-ins, triggering a tense standoff with police. WATCH THE VIDEO

A motivated and angry mob of more than 100 people have roamed the streets between residences in a crime-ridden suburb of Rockhampton as they tried to take a recent “crime wave” into their own hands.

The chaotic scenes were sparked after Mr O’Brien, who ran for One Nation in the seat of Rockhampton in the 2020 State Election, had made a Facebook appeal for information about the identity of alleged thieves who recently broke into his sister’s Wandal home.

“The crime wave has been big for a while, I hadn’t been affected until now (but) when my sister and newborn woke up in their room alone with three other men in there,” Mr O’Brien told The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin.

“These grubs have finally messed with the wrong people.”

Police stand guard at a Norman Gardens home after a group rallied out front. Picture: Vanessa Jarrett

In the post, Mr O’Brien urged readers to “rat on their mates”.

“$5k cash all I want is the addresses of the others, you get $5k and I leave you alone …. Make a fake Facebook and msg me if you have to …,” he said.

“I won’t leave this alone, trust me you’re better off with the $5k than dealing with me, take the cash before one of your mates does.”

Facebook posts which sparked angry confrontation with police.

The post gained more than 350 shares and almost 50 comments with information and support for Mr O’Brien, who owns a local Muay Thai gym, with people jumping to the comments section to vent their anger at the worsening crime problem.

Mr O’Brien later urged locals to attend a “rally” in at Central Park park to organise “neighbourhood watch groups”.

Former One Nation candidate Torin O’Brien called on his community to gather in public. Picture: Facebook

“The town is angry and the police are worried … good, maybe they can feel our fear and will do more, but we all know it’s the government and court system letting us down,” Mr O’Brien said in a post.

“Victims and pissed off locals are ready to go”

The group at the public meeting at Central Park, Rockhampton, on Sunday May 7.

“People are motivated, sick of it (local crime),” Mr O’Brien told the Bulletin.

“We’re not violent vigilantes, we are just law abiding citizens who have had a gutful.”

When the meeting finished, the group left to go visit homes that had been tipped as residences of alleged offenders.

A public meeting was hosted by Torin O'Brien on Sunday May 7 at Rockhampton's Central Park for people to stand together against crime.

Mr O’Brien led the charge, explaining to the gathered crowd and local media that he had largely stayed quiet about the local crime problem until recently.

“Where were you guys when my sister and her baby woke up with three of these … in her bedroom,” he said in the video.

The crowd descended on a home in Norman Gardens in their dozens, blocking off the street.

Police stand guard at a Norman Gardens home after a group rallied out front. Picture: Vanessa Jarrett

Multiple people went up to the front door of the home and demanded the occupants open up.

Persons on the ground reported the juvenile was armed inside with a machete.

Within minutes, swarms of police arrived and blocked off the street.

Torin O'Brien speaking with Rockhampton police during the community rally.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the meeting escalated as neighbours faced off against half a dozen officers on the front lawn of a Norman Garden home.

A Queensland police spokesman said they “appreciate community assistance in reporting” local crime.

“Police remain committed to preventing, disrupting and investigating crime in our local communities,” they said.

A lead police officer negotiated with Mr O’Brien for some time.

The crowd swarmed multiple addresses in North Rockhampton where alleged thieves are reported to live.

By 3.30pm some 100 people were part of the group as they moved to a second address in Berserker, followed by police.

Police officers leaving an address in Berserker where the group spoke to neighbours.

Leaders of the group knocked on doors and spoke to residents, as others watched on filming on their phones.

The group later attended a third address before returning to the original home.

The crowd finally began to disperse around 4pm when Mr O’Brien told everyone to go home and that he would meet with police about the issue next week.

The final crowd at an address in Norman Gardens before they were ordered to move on by police.

Police standing guard at the home in Norman Gardens as the crowd refused to leave.

Some of the group, however, refused to leave, demanding immediate action.

More police, with dogs, arrived just before 4.30pm, with at least eight police vehicles on scene and more than a dozen officers.

Eventually, the lead police officer issued a “move on” direction about 4.45pm, effective immediately for 12 hours, forcing the remaining 18 adults to go home.

Torin J O'Brien organised a rally against crime in Rockhampton after a property was robbed at Wandal. Source: Facebook

Torin J O'Brien organised a rally against crime in Rockhampton after a property was robbed at Wandal. Source: Facebook

A private Facebook group created by Mr O’Brien on Sunday called “Rocky thieves meet and greet” amassed more than 1300 members in just six hours.

Move-on directions were issued to 15 people and no one was injured during the incident.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.