Warwick Golf Club, homes, and businesses targeted in wave of break-ins

Police are searching for the offenders targeting Warwick homes, businesses, and community clubs in a string of destructive break-ins that has quickly racked up thousands of dollars in damages and stolen goods.

Warwick police are on the hunt for the offenders behind an alarming spate of break-ins across town, which has left a trail of destruction with damage and stolen property worth thousands of dollars.

An unknown number of people forced their way into a Weewondilla Rd home overnight on Tuesday, taking a set of car keys that they used to steal the owners’ Volkswagen sedan.

Warwick Police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said the vehicle was found burnt-out and abandoned on Wednesday morning in Murphy St.

“On that same night, we had another break-in at a house in Glennie St. We’ve had offenders gain entry to the house again and take keys to two vehicles,” Sergeant Slater said.

“One was a (Toyota) Hilux utility and the other was a Nissan Pathfinder station wagon. The Hilux was located in a car park on Rosehill Rd and the other one was located in the same area.”

Offenders struck again the same night at a home in Matthew St, entering through the garage but not taking any property.

It was only hours later that police were notified of a break-in at the Matt’s Mowers and More Stihl shop on Albion St, where thieves took 10 items including chainsaws, mowers, and various other tools.

Sergeant Slater said another break-in occurred later that night or early Thursday morning, with offenders this time targeting a house on Douglas St and again taking car keys.

“A Mitsubishi station wagon has been stolen, and that was later located undamaged on (Thursday) morning at Boggabilla,” he said.

The quickly growing string of house break-ins comes amid reports the Warwick Golf Club has been targeted by vandals three times within the past fortnight, with the most recent taking place on Wednesday night.

Sergeant Slater said offenders had been breaking into the sheds and driving golf carts around the course, then leaving the vehicles in varying states of damage near the sheds or around the golf club.

No charges have been laid in relation to any of the incidents at this stage.

He said detectives were still investigating whether any of the break-ins were connected, and urged the community to keep reporting tips or incidents directly to the police.

“We have had a fair bit of information coming in from members of the public and that’s helping us out a fair bit,” Sergeant Slater said.

“The biggest thing we need to get out to people is to just lock their houses. These days, that’s how the offenders are getting access to cars.

“They can’t really hot-wire them or anything now, they need the keys, so they need to commit the break to gain access to them.”

Anyone with relevant information should contact Warwick Police on 4660 4444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.