Toowoomba crime: Homeowner left ‘violated’ after young crims break into house and steal two cars, MP David Janetzki wants reforms

A Toowoomba home owner has been left feeling “violated” after young crims broke into his home over four hours and stole two cars all caught on shocking video.

Middle Ridge resident Aaron McMahon stands outside his home three weeks after young thugs broke in and stole two cars.

Aaron McMahon’s stomach sunk as he watched his security footage of young crims spending more than four hours breaking into his Middle Ridge home before driving off with two of his cars.

“The vision of them walking around with the masks on, you start thinking about your kids,” the father-of-four said following the November 4 theft.

“If they walked into one of my kids, what would they have done?”

CCTV footage outside Aaron McMahon's Middle Ridge home on November 4, when four alleged burglars broke in and stole two of his family's cars while they slept.

Mr McMahon is one of the hundreds of victims of car theft in Toowoomba every year, with statistics indicating more than 650 vehicles were reported stolen in 2021 alone.

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki has called on the government to reform its laws to toughen up on repeat offenders.

CCTV from the house on the night showed at least three young males, one of which had a Guy Fawkes mask on, circling the property over several hours to find a weak point.

The toilet window at the back of Aaron McMahon's Middle Ridge home, which was burgled on November 4 by four people caught on CCTV.

Mr McMahon said eventually they did, with one crawling through a narrow toilet window that was left open.

“These people turned up about 11pm, trying to get into the house, stayed for about 20 minutes, couldn’t get in, they’ve left and come back at about 1.15am and then stayed until 3.20am until they were finally able to break in and steal both cars,” he said.

“They were trying to get into every single window, they were cutting fly screen trying to jimmy windows open, pick locks on the doors and all types of things until they finally got in through the toilet window.

“They had to walk past the kids rooms and the kids playrooms.”

Mr McMahon said he believed the crime was premeditated, based on both the persistent nature of the offenders and the fact his wife reported being followed home a week prior.

“My wife was followed about a week prior, coming home from school in a suspicious vehicle,” he said.

“They sat on her tail all the way home, and they broke off at the end of the street.”

Middle Ridge resident Aaron McMahon has had his two cars stolen, Friday, November 25, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

It is understood three arrests have been laid, with both cars recovered. Police were contacted for further information.

Mr McMahon said the incident has cost the family more than $15,000 in repairs, premiums and excess costs, but more importantly has left them feeling violated.

“It’s a massive impact, my three-year-old keeps wake up asking if the bad men came back (during the night),” he said.

“My six-year-old just will not sleep in her own room, she’s got to sleep with us.

“It makes you feel powerless, it really does.”

Mr Janetzki said the government needed to look at reintroducing breach of bail conditions along with other reforms which he argued would reduce the rates of criminal activity.

“I’m getting sick of standing up with my constituents talking about this,” he said.

“For a long time, this problem has been getting worse, and I don’t think the government is listening to the concerns of the people.

“Police are doing the very best they can, but their hands are tied, (so) the laws need to keep pace.”

The state government has ruled out reinstating breach of bail as an offence, arguing it would have little impact on the rates of offending.

The findings of the Youth Justice Reform Review report by former police commissioner Bob Atkinson found that while the changes had led to an increase in young people offending on bail, the reforms should be continued.

“We have put community safety first since we came into government and when Queenslanders said they wanted more done, we did more,” Children and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said last week.

Originally published as Toowoomba crime: Homeowner left ‘violated’ after young crims break into house and steal two cars, MP David Janetzki wants reforms