Warwick residents urged to lock up as theft spike continues

Police are urging the Warwick community to take security seriously as thieves continue to target unlocked homes and vehicles across the area, including a bold theft at a fast-food restaurant in the CBD. Full details here:

Warwick residents are being urged to improve their home security as thieves continue to take advantage of unlocked houses and vehicles.

Offenders entered the front yard of a Canning St property between midday Saturday and 5am Sunday, where they ransacked an unlocked vehicle parked outside the house.

Warwick police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said the thieves stole a credit card and driver’s licence from inside the car before fleeing the scene.

He said it was only hours later at about 3.20pm Sunday that a group of teenagers stole a scooter that was parked in the bike racks at McDonald’s, forcing its young owner to try and chase them down.

“The owner was inside at the time when they saw four young males take the scooter and ride eastbound down Percy St,” Sergeant Slater said.

“He tried to chase them, but they got away.”

Both incidents remain under investigation and no charges have been laid at this stage.

With another unlocked car stolen only days earlier amid the most recent spate of thefts sweeping Warwick, Sergeant Slater urged the community to safeguard themselves and their property as much as possible with tight security measures.

“That’s the main message – just lock everything,” he said.

These most recent thefts join a long list of break-ins and burglaries currently being investigated across the Warwick area, including three homes being targeted in a matter of hours last week and a still-increasing number of car thefts.

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