WATCH VIDEO: Warwick ‘car thieves’ speed through town in stolen car

Shocking footage of a group of Warwick teenagers allegedly driving a stolen car has revealed an alarming trend among the town’s youth offenders, as police investigate a new spate of break-ins and thefts. WATCH THE VIDEO:

A shocking video allegedly filmed and posted to social media by Warwick teenagers driving a stolen car has given alarming new insight into the town’s property theft concern.

The short clip was first shared via Snapchat over the weekend and has since circulated on other social media platforms, showing a group of teenagers or young adults driving a vehicle that had reportedly been stolen from a Warwick property that same night.

Those in the video appear to be wearing dark clothing and items to conceal their identities, such as masks and other face coverings or gloves.

Warwick police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said these videos were often a feature of car thefts and property-related crime perpetrated by young offenders, though this specific clip had not been handed to police.

He said it was only a day later that another car was stolen from a Gore St home between 8am and 11am Monday.

“It looks like the offender has entered the house and taken the spare key to the car,” Sergeant Slater said.

“That car was parked in a driveway, and it looks like possible entry was through a window.”

He said the station wagon was found dumped in a paddock off Rosehill Rd the following afternoon, and was largely undamaged.

Police are also investigating two dirt bikes being stolen from a property on Cactus Ridge Rd at Rodgers Creek on an unknown date between July 15 and this week.

Sergeant Slater said thieves had forced their way into a shed on the property to gain access to the vehicles.

It comes as detectives are searching for the offenders behind a break-in at Repco Warwick on Grafton St, which took place just after 1.45am Wednesday.

Thieves jemmied open a door to the premises and made off with a touchscreen television and several vehicle spotlights or other lighting systems, totalling thousands of dollars in damages and stolen goods.

Investigations are ongoing in relation to all incidents and no charges have been laid.

Sergeant Slater said reported car thefts and other property-related crimes were still at a much lower rate in comparison to the beginning of the year, but urged Warwick residents to remain vigilant in keeping their homes and cars locked wherever possible.

“Occasionally, we get sneak offences where they’ll see unlocked cars or unlocked houses and they take an opportunity,” he said.

“(Break-ins despite locks) are especially true in rural areas, where neighbours aren’t close by and there’s more of an opportunity to stay for a longer period of time and making noise doesn’t really deter them.

It’s like everything else, we rely on information from the community. It’s something we need to be vigilant about and keep up our patrol.

“If there’s offenders there, we’ll put them before the courts and let the courts take their action.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Warwick police on 4660 4444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.