Goondiwindi residents living in fear as youth crime wave grips town

Residents of a southern Queensland town are living in fear following a night of terror allegedly inflicted by youth offenders, a common problem in a town where residents sleep ‘with one eye open’.

Residents of a southern Queensland town are living in constant fear with criminals taking to the streets in the early hours of the morning and committing a range of alleged offences, ranging to brazen break and enters, to vehicle theft and robbery.

Sleeping with “one eye open”, one woman said she leaves her car keys by the front door, so that if her home is broken into, the crooks won’t harm her and just take the vehicle.

It’s become an all to normal routine for residents in Goondiwindi, who are living in a state of terror amid “nightly occurrences” of offending, which are becoming more and more violent.

Goondiwindi resident Grace - last name withheld for privacy - was born and raised in the southern Queensland town and said it was a fantastic place with lovely, welcoming people, but recently, the attitude has changed to “if not, but when” a resident will be targeted by thieves.

On Saturday night, the back door of her home was bashed in while she was away, with the thieves running away with her friend’s car, while ramming her vehicle and carport.

The stolen car was later located, burnt out on the outskirts of town.

The car was later located burnt out while it’s owner was out at a function on Saturday evening. (Photo: supplied)

“It’s all anyone can talk about, it’s come to a stage where everyone is wondering when it will happen to them, it’s a constant state of fear,” she said.

“I consider myself very lucky because the next bloke they hit ended up in hospital (the 52-year-old man), it’s been getting bad for years now but we’re seeing and hearing about more violence now.

“One of the saddest parts is in the past six months things have really started heating up and motels have been targeted, bashing down doors and robbing them, it’s really sad for Goondiwindi tourism, because we are such a nice, welcoming town.

“Now people think if you stay in town you run the risk of having your motel rammed which is really sad for the local businesses.”

A Goondiwindi resident returned home on Saturday night to find her home broken into. Hours later, a car stolen from her property was located burnt out outside of town.

Grace said the criminals were now becoming more brazen and dangerous. While previously they could have beeen scared off by hearing a stir in the house and would flee, however, more people were being injured.

“The fear is now more so set in, they’re actually hurting people and ending up in hospital and this is not a representation of what Goondiwindi is, so it's really sad for us,” she said.

Locals in the area have taken to social media to report break-ins and suspicious behaviour and vigilante groups have surfaced on Facebook to prevent further crimes.

Grace said locals have tried to defend themselves anyway they can, whether it be CCTV or weapons.

“I was speaking to a colleague before who just moved to town and she’s terrified, she lives alone and is in her early 20s, people don‘t know what to do,” Grace said.

Upon returning home, the woman noticed her belongings strewn across the front yard, including her laptop.

“The whole town's sleeping with one eye open, everyone has alarms and security cameras or trying to arm themselves, which is never advised, people are in fear and it won’t be long before someone gets seriously hurt, whether its an offender or a resident. People are at their tether.”

It’s believed by police a pair of 16-year-old boys were responsible for a week of terror in the town of Goondiwindi, leaving residents on edge.

Early this morning, local police caught up with the alleged offenders using road spikes on their vehicle on the Newell Highway.

Police will allege the two boys hit eight businesses and homes on early Wednesday morning, including two separate motel accommodations.

It is further alleged by police, the group were responsible for a spat of crimes earlier in the week at Boggabilla, in which a service station and motel were targeted, and a man in his 50s was assaulted.

This Isuzu D-MAX was stolen from Goondiwindi on Sunday morning and was torched in Boggabilla. (Photo: supplied)

Goondiwindi Senior Sergeant Richard McIntosh said the majority of property related offenders in town come from south of the border.

“The police and community are engaging in proactive methods to address the issue, and residents should abide by ensuring their homes and property are secured,” Sergeant McIntosh said.

Residents have taken their concern to social media, with one user posting “What the heck is going on right now it’s making me think I might want to sell up and move elsewhere” on a forum that is ordinarily about happening events, which has tragically turned to a crime update hub.

Another commented, “ Very sad. They are just taking over, they care about no one. They know they will get away with all what they are doing Some one will get hurt before long I think.”

One resident added onto a post “It is the criminal children that are the problem in Boggabilla, it is embarrassing their town and hurting Goondiwindi”.