Border residents at wits end over insidious cycle of crime, truckies targeted with rocks

A tiny town border town of a mere 500 residents has become a wasteland of burnt-out homes and violent crime, forcing some residents to consider leaving the region.

A tiny town a stone’s throw from the Queensland-NSW border has become a wasteland of crime and derelict homes destroyed by fire.

Once a bustling tourist haven, Boggabilla has been left to rot – even locals sleep with one eye open.

While some might say the media has sensationalised the abhorrent crime across the border region, crime statistics tell another story.

Figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show 37 arson, 67 theft, 53 malicious damage to property and 43 assault offences were recorded in the 2024-25 financial year.

The population of Boggabilla is 529.

A home in Merriwa St was destroyed in a fiery blaze on November 15, 2024. Photo: Boggabilla Rural Fire Brigade

The town is a major thoroughfare for heavy vehicles travelling the Newell Highway, which runs through its main street.

Truckies have become a target for crime, with some pulled from their cabs while sleeping, while others have rocks thrown at their windscreens as they travel through.

The most recent attack was captured on a dashcam and has left the truckie and his family contemplating moving from the region.

While they live across the border in Goondiwindi, their work requires frequent travel through Boggabilla.

Melinda* lives with the fear her husband will not return home, afraid a rock could smash through his windscreen.

“We should feel safe driving over the border, not scared for our lives,” she said.

“It’s been bad for so long, we’ve just reached a point where we’re over it.”

Still of the dashcam captured by a truckie travelling through Boggabilla, where unknown offenders throw rocks at the vehicle as it drives by.

She recalled an incident where she was stopped on a street in Boggabilla when a person on a motorbike appeared at her window, revving the engine in an attempt to scare her.

She is not the first to have a run-in with what locals refer to as “motorbikes”, a group of individuals who take pleasure in harassing the streets.

“It’s sad because Goondiwindi itself is great, there’s just a few who ruin it for the rest of us,” she said.

Multiple break-ins were reported in the Goondiwindi area just this week, leaving Melinda feeling unsafe to be home alone.

Queensland police are investigating a series of break and enter offences in the area on Tuesday.

A QPS spokeswoman said about 1.10am an unknown offender was captured on CCTV entering a Herbert St property.

It is understood nothing was stolen from this property and the alleged offender left the scene.

A short time later two offenders entered a Hungerford St property and stole a Toyota LandCruiser utility before leaving the scene.

Just before 2am the same vehicle was seen at a Marshall St business where the two offenders allegedly forced their way into the store through the front doors before stealing mobile phones, an iPad and money before fleeing the scene.

The stolen LandCruiser was located burnt out about 8.30am near Toomelah in NSW.

Police believe the incidents are related and anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.