South Burnett crime: Police reveal what locals need to do to stop Burnett criminals

Further break-ins have occurred across the region, continuing a spate of property that has led police to urge resident to ‘lock up’. See where thieves are targeting with our interactive map.

Businesses and homeowners continue to be targeted by criminals, with more thefts and break-ins reported across the region in the past two weeks.

Between 8am and noon on May 16, a 30-year-old Cherbourg man attended a Lamb Street, Murgon, business on two separate occasions and allegedly stole grocery items.

He then returned again on the evening of May 18, and allegedly stole items from another business on two separate occasions.

The 30-year-old Cherbourg man was charged with unlawfully taking away of shop goods and enter premises and commit indictable offence and is to appear at the Murgon Magistrates court on June 7.

Between midnight May 13 and midnight May 19, offenders allegedly stole a generator and a trailer with Queensland registration 956UDD from an Olsens Rd, Cushnie, property.

Then, between noon on May 22 and 1am on May 23, offenders gained entry to a residence on Marshall St, Cherbourg, by unknown means.

They allegedly stole an orange KTM motorcycle from residence.

Investigations into both matters are continuing.

See where criminals are targeting on our interactive map

(Blue pins show approximate location of reported crime and the date)

At about 7pm on May 16, unknown offenders have also approached a vehicle parked in the front car park of a medical facility in Cherbourg.

The offenders allegedly damaged the driver’s side window by throwing an object, before throwing a rock through the passenger side window and gaining entry, taking two purses and two mobile phones.

Then later in the week, between 3am and 3.30am on May 19, an offender has attended a Wondai Proston Road, Kinleymore, address and entered the residence through an unlocked back door.

The occupant woke and told the offender to leave.

Investigation continue.

While Murgon Police say there doesn’t appear to be a significant spike in property crime, Community Crime Reduction officer Danielle Gordon urged locals to lock up their property.

“Offending is usually opportunistic, in that if doors to houses or vehicles are being left unlocked, then they are more likely to get broken into or items stolen from their vehicles,” Constable Gordon said.

The spree comes after detectives began hunting for thieves who stole big ticket items from a string of businesses in Kingaroy and Wondai.

The senior constable said residents and businesses should do the following to ensure they reduced their risk of being a victim.

• Ensure doors are always locked with a key even when you are home.
• Ensure that all external doors, including your garage, of your home are solid and fitted with quality deadlocks
• Fit secure locks to your window which meet Australian Standards and never leave the keys in the window locks
• Always ensure car keys and house keys, together with mobile phones, handbags and wallets are stored out of sight
• Ensure trees and shrubs are trimmed to allow visibility to your property and your house number is clearly visible
• Lock away items of value such as bikes, lawn mowers and garden implements such as ladders. Always keep your garage or shed door closed and locked with a key.

Constable Gordon also reminded residents police offered security audits of their properties, and anyone wishing to book one should call the Murgon Station on [phone].

The recent break-ins are the latest in a shocking spate of property crimes that have swept across the region this year including more than a dozen people hit with 75 charges under Operation Viper in February, which targeted a tsunami of car thefts across the South Burnett and Gympie.

If you have information for police call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.