850+ crimes: Burnett’s most dangerous business areas revealed – list
Burnett businesses have become targets for illegal activity and racked up some of the region’s highest crime rates, with one recording close to 300 offences. The most dangerous areas in the region can now be revealed. Full list:
Police & Courts
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As the Burnett’s population continues to faces another surge of burglaries and property related crime, police data has revealed the areas and businesses in the region most often targeted by criminals.
Calls from community leaders for harsher penalties and more police resources have grown in a recent months as thefts and break-ins continue to plague to region.
From shopping complexes and supermarkets to petrol stations and pubs, this is your full breakdown of the crime reported at prominent business locations across the South Burnett.
Murgon Business District – Lamb St
Queensland Police data indicated the main business region of Murgon, making up Lamb St between Gore and Krebs Streets, has recorded the largest number of crimes in the past two years, with 263 listed.
The street hosts many of the town’s biggest and most successful businesses, including the Murgon IGA, The Australian Hotel and Coffee Bar 4605.
More than a third of all offences are listed as thefts in the area, with more than 20 assaults also recorded in the area.
In the past six months alone the small business area has recorded 40 offences, with theft still topping the charts.
Kingaroy police and court precinct
Rather ironically, the area most likely to see crime in the Kingaroy township is the Kingaroy court and police precinct on the corner of Kingaroy and Alford Streets, which includes the Department of Transport office.
The area has recorded 139 offences in the past year with good order offences making up nearly half of that number, with 65 recorded.
Drug offences was the next most common, with 24 recorded in the past two years.
It’s a trend that remain the same looking at data over just the previous six months, with 25 offences recorded and 15 of which were good order offences.
Kingaroy Shoppingworld
Following closely behind the court precinct, the major shopping centre in town is an obvious target for criminals.
The Shoppingworld is the largest centre in the region and boast dozens of big name brands including Woolworths and Big W.
The centre is managed by retail property developers McConaghy Group, which owns and operates shopping centres across regional Queensland and New South Wales.
In the past two years the centre has recorded 136 offences, with the theft making up the largest number as expected.
The centre has also recorded 11 assaults in that time period, including four in just the past six months.
Nanango CBD – Drayton St
The quiet country charm of Nanango doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its problems, with the main store front area of Drayton St regularly targeted by criminals.
The street is home to multiple businesses, including the local IGA as well as a petrol station and the Palace Hotel.
In the past two years, 89 offences were recorded in the area with theft making up about a third of these offences.
Crime seems to be slowing in the area recently, with only 29 offences report in the last six months.
Murgon Court and government agent
Much like its Kingaroy counterpart, the Murgon court precinct that includes the local government agent is a hotbed for good order offences.
Of the 65 offences recorded in the area in the past two years, 48 or more than two thirds were good order violations.
This was followed by property damage.
The trend show no sign of slowing, with 23 offences recorded at the site in just six months.
Haly and Youngman St Intersection, Kingaroy
It’s rare that a night out on the town in Kingaroy doesn’t finish around the intersection of Haly and Youngman Streets.
With the ever popular Kingaroy Hotel on one side, and the glowing neon arches of McDonalds on the other, it’s got everything a reveller needs.
The area is a hotbed for good order offences, with the crime making up nearly a third of the 63 offences recorded in the past two years.
Drug and theft offences following closely behind with ten offences each recorded, and six assaults have also been recorded in the area.
It seems partygoers have been better behaved in recent months, with just one assault and a total of 11 offences recorded in the past six months.
United Fuel Kingaroy
It’s the only 24-hour fuel station in the town, so it’s no surprise Kingaroy’s United Fuel service station makes an appearance on this list.
Of the 59 offences recorded since 2020, the vast majority have been theft offences, making 39 of the total crimes.
That number doesn’t improve in the past six months – with everyone of the 14 recorded crimes being theft related.
Kingaroy Hospital
The one place people should feel safe in the region, the hospital, has become a tragic hotspot for public order offences.
In the past two years, 31 of the 52 recorded crimes have been good order related. Seven assaults were also recorded at the precinct.
The number is much improved in recent months, with 15 crimes reported including seven good order offences, three property damage charges and two assaults.
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