Goondiwindi police respond to numerous break-ins, robberies in weekend of terror

Police are calling a series of property and vehicle offences a ‘crime wave’, with dozens of matters reported to police in a handful of days. Read the terrifying timeline of crime here.

A resident captured two would-be offenders on home security attempting to enter a east Goondiwindi home over the weekend. (Photo: Facebook / Goondiwindi Notice Board)

A southern Queensland border town has experienced a night of terror with a range of break-ins and robberies reported to police at the weekend.

It’s been described as a “crime wave” with property offences spiking massively throughout the Goondiwindi region in a matter of days.

Disturbing footage captured by one homeowner shows two would-be offenders caught attempting to enter a home in east Goondiwindi.

Terrifyingly, the homeowner said six to seven individuals were seen in total in the background of the footage.

Officer in charge at Goondiwindi police, Senior Sergeant Richard McIntosh urged residents to stay vigilant with property and vehicle offences rising.

“It has been pretty quiet the past few months and this night of offending was quite out of the blue,” Sergeant McIntosh said.

Details revealed from local police reveal dozens of offences within a handful of days, in what police are labelling “a spike”.

TIMELINE OF CRIME:

JUNE 29

• Shortly before midnight, a number of offenders attempted to gain entry to a residence in Warden St. The offenders were disturbed and left.

• Minutes later, an unknown group of offenders have attempted to entry an address in Charles Ave but were disturbed and left.

JUNE 30

• An unknown offender attempted to gain entry to a residence in Everingham Drive, about 12.01am. The offender was disturbed by the owner and scattered.

• At about 12.20am, unknown offenders attended to a local caravan park where they assaulted two people to steal their car, however the offenders were unsuccessful and left.

• At least seven offenders gained entry to a residence in Mann St at about 12.30am. The offenders stole several items and fled in a white Jeep. These offenders were also in several other yards in the area.

• Four offenders forced two doors at a local motel before entering the room and stealing several items at about 12.42am.

• At around 1.15am, at least seven offenders attempted to enter numerous vehicles and residences in James Norman Drive.

At one address the offenders attempted to steal a motorbike and a vehicle when they were disturbed by NSW Police. During this time tyre deflation devices were deployed in locations around town.

• Before 2am, several offenders gained entry to a residence in Kiona St by forcing the main door in. The offenders stole several items.

• About 2.30am, one of the stolen cash cards was used to obtain fuel from Boggabilla, just south of the NSW border.

The vehicle used in all these offences was a white Jeep Grand Cherokee. This vehicle was stolen in Brisbane at about 4am on Saturday June 29. This vehicle was heard and sighted during these times by residents.

JULY 1

• At around 12.20am, two unknown offenders entered two local motel rooms and stole a quantity of property.

• At about 3.08am, two unknown offenders smashed the front glass door to a local store in Marshall St. Offenders stole property related to the sale of tobacco products.

• At an unknown time between 11pm on July 1 and 3am on July 2, unknown persons stole a vehicle – understood to be a Subaru Outback – from a local motel.

JULY 2

• About 3am, the stolen Subaru Outback attended to an address in Riverview Terrace. The offenders burnt the Subaru and then stole another vehicle – a Mazda BT-50 – from that location. This vehicle was located at about 9am burning in McGregor St in west Goondiwindi.

• Shortly later, at 3.25am, two offenders have driven the BT-50 through the roller doors at a local hotel. Offenders stole a quantity of liquor and were disturbed. After being disturbed they left the scene.

• Ten minutes later, offenders attempted to break into another local hotel by ramming the roller door on two occasions. The offenders used the stolen BT-50. No entry was gained.

• At 4.05am, police attended a two vehicle crash on the Gore Highway.

According to initial reports, a vehicle travelling towards Millmerran drifted into the other lane and collided with a vehicle travelling towards Goondiwindi. Investigations are continuing if either vehicle was stolen.

• At an unknown time, overnight to July 3 offenders have gone through a vehicle in Clarkes Rd. The offenders have stolen a purse and have later used the cards at Boggabilla doing four transactions.

JULY 3

• At 1.03am, police attempted an intercept of a vehicle in Sandhurst St. The vehicle committed an overt action to evade police. Due to the known circumstances police were not permitted to pursue the vehicle.

• At an unknown time during the morning of July 3, offenders entered a business in Russell St, Goondiwindi where they located car keys and stole a vehicle from the address. The vehicle was later seen in Boggabilla. The vehicle was a IX35.

ARRESTS

Currently as it stands two individuals have been charged.

• On July 2, police from Toowoomba located a 14-year-old Cunnamulla youth in Toowoomba. Police charged the youth with all the property related offences that occurred on June 29-30 in Goondiwindi.

Police objected to the youths bail but he was released after court. Further inquiries are continuing for the other offenders.

• On July 3, police executed a search warrant at a Delacy St address where police located a quantity of liquor. As a result, police located a 30-year-old male person.

Police charged the offender with nine charges relating to the offences that occurred on July 1 and 2.

Police objected to the alleged offender’s bail.

It’s understood one car was spotted by locals doing “at least 130 km/h” fleeing police, north of Goondiwindi.

Acting Patrol Inspector Troy Hamilton said the reports of break and enters, stolen vehicles and robberies was certainly “a crime wave which went through Goondiwindi”.

“There was a bit of a spike (in property offences) across that region, and over the holiday period police will be out in force patrolling these road networks,” Inspector Hamilton said.

“These criminal activities happen well into the early hours of the morning, and they are opportunistic, and police encourage everyone to ensure the safety of their vehicles and property.

“Police activities are focused on trying to ensure there is no repeats in this type of behaviour.”

Police are currently investigating a number of suspects in various matters.