‘Thin, like cardboard’: Family’s shock after thieves kick in door

Thieves made off with $6000 worth of goods after kicking through a family’s door in Ipswich on Friday, sparking calls for homeowners to check their security.

Redbank Plains couple Mark Jenkins and Fiona Thompson had the door of their house kicked down by thieves on Friday, August 2. Picture: Supplied

An Ipswich couple have pleaded with homeowners to check the security standards of their home after thieves kicked through the door of their home and made off with over $6000 worth of possessions on Friday.

Redbank Plains residents Mark Jenkins and Fiona Thompson had their house broken into at Magpie Crescent, Redbank Plains, on Friday, August 2, between 1.30pm and 5.30pm.

After kicking down a door to enter the garage and then the house, the alleged thieves made off with about $6000 worth of possessions including $4000 worth of jewellery, keys, USBs with photos on it, Xbox, wallets, and bank cards.

The thieves made off with countless personal and sentimental belongings from the Redbank Plains home. Picture: Supplied

After arriving back home and realised the property had been broken into, Ms Thompson activated the panic alarm on her car and entered her home with a neighbour.

“It was horrible, it’s been really stressful and scary not feeling safe in our own home,” Ms Thompson said.

The thieves went through drawers throughout the Redbank Plains home. Picture: Supplied

Mr Jenkins said the alleged thieves easily broke through the side door of the house leading to the garage.

“All they’ve done is given it one solid kick and the whole door’s crumbled in half,” he said.

“It’s a really thin door, it literally looks like there’s cardboard on the interior of the door.

“We’ve got a footprint on the door and you can see it was just one kick that caused the door to cave in.

“The neighbours were even home at the time and they didn’t even hear it.”

The footprint on the door of the house that was kicked in. Picture: Supplied

Mr Jenkins claims that he was told by police that attended the scene and the carpenter that the type of door used on the exterior of the property shouldn’t have been there.

“The cop and the carpenter both mentioned to me that the door leaving outside or any exterior wooden door should be a solid core door, not a hollow core door,” he claimed.

“We’d like builders to do the correct thing and not cut corners to save costs, because you may have saved $100 on the door, but we’ve lost $6000 in priceless stuff that we’re never going to get back.

“We urge people to check their property is up to standards with security and make sure they have solid core doors on the outside of their homes.”

Mr Jenkins added that the incident had left him and his partner living in fear.

“It is still a thought at the back of my mind that they’re going to come back,” he said.

“We are left just trying to pick up the pieces and everything.

“Words can’t really describe to you how we are feeling, it’s despicable it even happened to be honest.”

The remnants of the hollow core door that was used as an exterior door at the Redbank Plains home. Picture: Supplied

The National Construction Code does not detail that a specific type of door must be used as an exterior door of a residential dwelling.

However, manufacturers of doors are required to provide labelling detailing information relevant to the Australian Standards.

The labelling is required to feature information detailing the fire rating, acoustic rating, energy efficiency, security features, and intended application of the door.

A Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) spokesman said that the intended use of the door must be clearly reflected on the label.

“Manufacturers must ensure that these labels are clear and compliant with regulatory requirements to assist builders, architects, and consumers in selecting the right doors for their specific needs,” the spokesman said.

“While information relating to the Australian Standards assists in determining compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), the BCA does not include requirements relating to the security of a building.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed that police are investigating the break-in.

“Police are aware of a reported break and enter that occurred at a Magpie Crescent address in Redbank Plains between 3-5pm on August 2,” the spokesman said.

“Anyone with vision of the area during this time, including dashcam footage, or anyone with information that could assist with investigations, is urged to contact police.

“Investigations are ongoing.”