GPS ankle bracelets, number plate recognition to fix youth crime crisis: Kim McCosker

A popular cookbook author has turned her attention to the Sunshine Coast’s youth crime crisis, urging authorities to introduce ankle bracelets and number plate recognition cameras. Find out why.

A high-profile cookbook author who had three cars stolen in a home invasion in the dead of night says GPS ankle bracelets said ankle bracelets could have deterred the “notorious” young offenders.

Kim McCosker and her family were asleep early on August 9 when six youths allegedly broke into her Pelican Waters home and made off with three “distinctive” vehicles, including a Mini Cooper, a Range Rover and a Toyota Supra.

Police arrested three boys aged between 16 and 17 in Logan and charged them for several offences involving the theft of vehicles and break-ins across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Kim McCosker said the brazen youths were undeterred by stealing such a distinctive car. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Ms McCosker, the founder of 4 Ingredients, said ankle bracelet trackers could have provided “another layer of protection” against the alleged crime.

“I was told by police that all the kids had severe rap sheets, they should have had ankle bracelets on,” Ms McCosker said.

The call comes a fortnight after a Townsville boy, 16, became the first juvenile offender in Queensland to be fitted with a controversial GPS tracking ankle bracelet since the new laws came into effect.

The GPS tracker trial was announced by the state government along with a raft of other youth bail changes, including creating a presumption against bail and the assurance of parents their child would comply with bail conditions.

Kim McCosker's Mini, her husband's Range Rover and her son's Toyota Supra were allegedly stolen from her Pelican Waters home.

Former detective and LNP member for Ninderry Dan Purdie said in August the bracelets had been an “epic fail”.

His comments came before a Queensland juvenile was fitted with a bracelet.

Mr Purdie this week said the balance of power had shifted to the youth offenders who were getting away with a “slap on the wrist”.

He called for breach of bail to be brought back as an offence for juvenile offenders.

Kim McCosker's Mini Country Man, her husband's Range Rover and her son's Toyota Supra were allegedly stolen from her Pelican Waters home in August.

“These kids are stealing cars, flying past police and livestreaming it to their fans,” Mr Purdie said.

A spokeswoman for acting Youth Justice Minister said GPS monitoring devices could only be attached if a magistrate or judge was satisfied that the young person resided with a responsible adult who will ensure the conditions were met.

“If the court isn’t satisfied that is the case the likelihood is the offender will not be granted bail and will remain in detention, and that is what is happening,” the spokeswoman said.

“GPS monitoring is an added tool the courts have available to them, the key to the new laws is the presumption against bail.

“The result of this is an extra 100 young people in detention that there was this time last year.”

Ms McCosker also called for fixed number plate technology cameras that can track stolen vehicles and alert authorities to be made permanent on the three main roads into Pelican Waters.

She described her suburb as “paradise” but said it had become a magnet for juvenile “glory hunters”.

“Who is this confident and brazen enough to steal a car so distinctive,” she said.

“They do it for the notoriety.”

Queensland Police Service data showed juvenile crime rates had gone down in the past five years, however stealing vehicles and enter with intent was on the rise.

It showed an average of 12 offences had been committed each month this year, up from seven offences five years ago.

There have almost 3700 juvenile offences on the Sunshine Coast so far in 2021, compared to a total of 6131 for 2020.

Ms McCosker said she had tracked down the identities of the accused on social media whose profiles indicated a level of pride in the offending.

“The system needs to be fixed before someone gets really hurt. It’s a time bomb waiting to explode,” she said.

Are ankle bracelets are the answer?

A criminology expert says slapping GPS tracers on the ankles of youths creates long term problems and that juvenile offenders should be shown alternative pathways away from crime.

University of Queensland criminologist Dr Renee Zahnow said GPS ankle tracers were not the answer and did more harm than good.

Dr Zahnow said evidence showed the tracers encouraged reoffending.

She said the ankle tracer trial was limited to targeting youths from postcodes in Townsville, Logan and Ipswich.

“One problem is that these youths are often from high-risk groups who come from backgrounds of poor home life,” Dr Zahnow said.

“So putting bracelets on them, puts the responsibility on the home life. This puts another layer of stress on the youths and if they have problems at home will create more issues.

“If they have problems at home and they could be trapped there.”

Dr Zahnow said recidivist youths should be encouraged to choose alternative pathways that helped them contribute to the society.

She said the youths should be accepted not impeded.

“The thing we need to remember is that these young people are likely to be victims too, these offenders frequently are,” she said.

“We have to come up with a response that is positive and helpful in their rehabilitation.

“We can’t stigmatise them further.

“It’s about helping them find employment and make sure they can see that there are alternative pathways out there.”

She said often the juveniles did not know they had options other than crime.