Townsville MP Scott Stewart’s home broken into and car was stolen

A Queensland MP in the state’s youth crime capital has become the latest victim of crime, after having his home broken into and a car stolen by a teenager.

A Queensland MP in the state’s youth crime capital has become the latest victim of crime, after having his home broken into and a car stolen by a teenager at the weekend.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart’s home was broken into in the early hours of Sunday morning and a car was also stolen from his driveway.

It comes after a shocking week of youth crime in Queensland where 70-year-old grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old boy in a Redbank Plains carpark on Saturday.

The state government and judiciary has come under fire in wake of the attack, after it was revealed the boy was on bail at the time of the stabbing.

Mr Stewart – who has been the Labor MP in the seat of Townsville since 2015 – had his home broken between 12.30am and 4am on February 4 where thieves stole several items, including car keys.

Scott Stewart during Ministerial statements during the sitting of state parliament.

The offenders then stole a Hyundai Santa Fe parked at Mr Stewart’s home and fled.

Police sources say the car was spotted driving in convoy with other stolen vehicles later that morning before it was found dumped at Dalrymple Service Rd in Currajong at 3pm.

A 15-year-old Belgian Gardens boy was charged with enter dwelling and commit, stealing and three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was refused bail and will reappear in Townsville Children’s Court on March 4.

Queensland Police are still investigating the incident.

The Courier-Mail understands Mr Stewart and his family were not physically injured in the incident.

Mr Stewart told The Courier-Mail he appreciated the work done by the police.

“I would like to thank the Queensland Police Service for the work they do for anyone who is impacted by crime,” Mr Stewart said.

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart at the Cleveland Bay Youth Detention Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“This incident highlights exactly why police and the government are going all out to target hardcore offenders who wish to do harm to the community.

“Community safety is paramount and as a government we will never relent because no amount of crime is acceptable.”

Townsville has been gripped by waves of youth crime over the years and has been dubbed the state’s crime hot spot.

Since 2020, the rate of car thefts per 1,000 people in Townsville has increased from 4.7 to 7.9. Break-in rates have also increased from 17.1 to 21.23 over the three-year period.

Mr Stewart is not the first prominent figure to be a victim of crime in Townsville, after magistrate Cathy Wadley had her car stolen in 2021.

Several NRL players have also fallen victim to youth crime over the years.