Northern Rivers car thefts, break-and-enters on the rise as residents call for action to drive down crime
Car thefts and break-ins have spiked in the Northern Rivers, with some areas hit with almost twice as many crimes in recent times. Meanwhile, ex-cops complain reoffenders are running free. Here’s what NSW Police had to say.
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Ex-cops have complained seasoned property offenders are running free to repeatedly offend as car thefts and break-and-enters have spiked across the Northern Rivers.
Statistics show some areas have been hit with twice as many crimes when compared to half a decade ago, while local NSW Police Facebook pages have recently filled with public appeals relating to stolen vehicles.
A young person was allegedly chased down and arrested by police officers after being caught breaking into a Goonellabah home on Sunday.
The youth was chased and charged with aggravated break and entering and stealing.
Car and other vehicle keys are a key target in property offending, police warn.
So far this year, Richmond Police District officers have ha arrested and charged 73 people with 188 charges ranging from aggravated break and entering, to stealing and stealing a motor vehicle under Operation Regional Mongoose.
Former North Coast police officer Andre Els has become a go-to man regarding complaints about crime in Ballina after his own car was broken into in February and the remote to his garage was stolen.
Mr Els said he reported the offending and began doing his own digging, discovering he was not the only victim of crime in his neighbourhood recently.
He organised a series of community meetings and a March meeting at Goonellabah involved state Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Federal Page MP Kevin Hogan and Richmond Police officers. They spoke with residents and discussed crime prevention methods.
Meanwhile, it’s been revealed over the past five years Byron and Richmond Valley local government areas have been hit with almost double the number of car thefts, while they have doubled in the Clarence, according to Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data.
Mr Els said he hoped to deter crime by helping to install more CCTV cameras and encouraging residents to buy tracking devices for their cars and install security lights.
He told this publication he believed the crimes had a common pattern – thieves have been “breaking into houses” to snatch “keys, wallets and then people’s cars”.
Mr Els said he had seen a “few people locked up” by officers during recent sprees, but offenders ended up “out again and they’re doing the rounds”.
He said the “bloody mongrels” were seemingly “well-known to police”.
Mr Els said he believed there was a rift between local police and some residents and he found people were approaching him with information, which he relayed to officers.
“I don’t know why they don’t want to send the information to police but one problem I’m finding is officers are not giving the results they are getting to the public,” he said.
Mr Els guessed there was perhaps a PR problem when it came to reporting crimes common in the community.
“When I was in the police force they didn’t teach us public relations and officers are expecting to get help from the public, but they aren’t staying in contact with the people reporting this stuff, which is really important,” he said.
“I’ve told them their PR really stinks because if people are supporting them they have to support the people too.”
However, Mr Els largely praised local police and said responses to crimes in the region had greatly improved.
“Now, officers come to a reported crime scene in five or 10 minutes – they’re doing a great job up here and we see police patrolling at night,” he said.
Mr Els said rumours were swirling in the community that Ballina Police Station did not have enough staff on hand.
But a NSW Police spokesperson responded and said the station was not understaffed. They said theft offending in the area was “largely opportunistic”.
“In many instances, police continue to see theft incidents occur when personal security is low, essentially creating ‘easy target’ opportunities for criminals,” they said.
“Experience has taught us that opportunistic offenders will often bypass cars and homes where windows and doors are secured, and valuables, including keys, are not on display.”
Police have increased patrols of targeted “hot spots” and officers continue to investigate outstanding vehicle theft offences, the spokesperson confirmed.
Another former officer, an ex-Sydney detective inspector of 30 years who requested anonymity, said he believed younger and inexperienced officers in the region may be in the dark about which jobs to prioritise.
“Police don’t have a lot of manpower to deal with the escalating break ins and car thefts,” he said.
“They are so understaffed, nobody is joining the cops anymore. I think it comes down to conditions, pay and people are more attracted to other occupations.”
Police urged anyone with information about thefts, break-ins or otherwise suspicious activity to phone triple-0 (in an emergency), Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.
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