Car theft victim calls on state to strengthen youth crime laws

A pair of young boys caused about $10,000 worth of damage to a Toowoomba business owner’s LandCruiser during their 10-hour crime spree.

Queensland’s youth justice laws have again come under fire after a pair of teens caused about $10,000 worth of damage to a Toowoomba business man’s vehicle during a 10-hour crime spree.

In June two 15-year-old boys stole Mark Abra’s LandCruiser and his bank card from his Harristown business about 3.30pm on a Friday.

He immediately phoned police and was dismayed when an officer asked him if he had looked for the LandCruiser himself.

“I got the shock of my life as to how hopeless our system is,” Mr Abra said.

Mr Abra called in 14 friends in seven cars to track the boys.

Over the next 10 hours they spotted the teens more than a dozen times recklessly driving across Toowoomba.

Mark Abra and David Janetzki MP with Mr Abra's Toyota LandCruiser which taken on a 10-hour joy ride.

“I first spotted them just before 4.30pm. I pulled up, yelled at them and they took off,” Mr Abra said.

“One of their mothers reported the pair to police that afternoon, as it wasn’t their first time stealing a car.

“I saw them four times that night. They were absolutely lead-footing it – speeding, running red lights, cutting through shopping centre car parks.

“The pair swerved at me when I was parked in a car at one stage.

“They also tried to reverse over one of our drivers when she approached the car (thinking it was empty) in the Clifford Gardens car park.”

The 4WD was abandoned in Water Street South where the group found it about 1.45am.

It was parked, locked, leaking oil, missing a radio, lights, and had panel damage.

The thieves also used Mr Abra’s credit card with transactions recorded at TK Maxx and KFC.

Thieves took this Toyota LandCruiser on a 10-hour joy ride in June.

Mr Abra said the repair bill totalled almost $10,000.

He believes an increased police presence would deter offenders but noted the failing in the justice system.

“I can see now where vigilante groups come from,” Mr Abra said.

“Our laws are letting us down.”

The incident happened in June, about two weeks before a 13-year-old boy died after he and three other teenagers were involved in a serious crash in a stolen car.

It marked the end of a busy period for Toowoomba police after car thefts spiked with 143 offences reported in the Darling Downs District in February.

The rate has steadily declined to a low of 78 offences in June.

Darling Downs police launched Operation Copperfield to target youth crime and car theft.

It resulted in 177 people charged with 359 offences in the district since it started on May 25, 2022.

Detective Inspector Heath McQueen. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Darling Downs Detective Inspector Heath McQueen said specialist officers, including a dedicated property crime team and criminal investigators, have been deployed to investigate matters of this nature.

“Officers undertake proactive and intelligence-driven patrols throughout Toowoomba and the surrounding areas,” he said.

“Additionally, resources such as Police Liaison Officers and officers from the Tactical Crime Unit have recently been deployed to assist in ongoing strategies to address property crime issues.”

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki MP said Mr Abra’s story was just one of 660 vehicles that were stolen in Toowoomba in the past 12 months.

“The current spate of youth offending has led to car thefts increasing by more than 53 per cent in the previous 12 months,” Mr Janetzki said.

“Every day I hear stories of crime in our community and people have had a gutful,” he said.

“Police are stretched. The state government must act to strengthen the law and provide targeted policing resources to tackle recidivist offending.”

Originally published as Car theft victim calls on state to strengthen youth crime laws