2024 in review: Crime drops in Townsville, but hotspots remain
The most dangerous suburbs in Townsville to have your car stolen and house broken into have been revealed with new police data showing worrying trends for some of our wealthiest suburbs.
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Kirwan has once again been named Townsville’s worst suburb for car thefts and break-ins, but there’s a silver lining — crime rates have dropped significantly when comparing data from 2024 to 2023.
Despite retaining its top spot for both crimes, unlawful entry offences in Kirwan fell by 30 per cent, dropping from 600 in 2023 to 407 in 2024.
Car thefts also decreased from 206 to 142 over the same period, according to police data for the last 12 months leading up to December 5, 2024.
Citywide, the trend is similar. Car thefts across Townsville dropped by 19 per cent, from 1,652 in 2023 to 1,329 in 2024, while break-ins saw a substantial decline of 28 per cent, falling from 4,979 to 3,575.
These reductions signal progress in crime prevention efforts across the city.
However, not all suburbs shared in the improvement. North Ward and West End reported increases in both car thefts and robberies, making them stand out as ongoing trouble spots.
In terms of break-ins, Kirwan still led with 407 incidents, followed by North Ward (226) and Mount Louisa (203).
Car theft hotspots followed a similar pattern, with Kirwan recording 142 incidents, North Ward 83, and Douglas 74.
For robberies, Thuringowa Central topped the list with 25 incidents, with Kirwan and Aitkenvale following at 21 and 16, respectively.
The year-on-year comparisons underline the mixed success in tackling crime, showing significant improvements in some areas while highlighting localised challenges that persist.
Crime in our suburbs:
Unlawful entry offences
1. Kirwan: 407
2. North Ward: 226
3. Mount Louisa: 203
4. Douglas: 173
5. West End: 141
6. Annandale: 136
7. Condon: 125
8. Aitkenvale: 110
9. Garbutt: 103
10. Townsville City: 126
Unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences
1. Kirwan: 142
2. North Ward: 83
3. Douglas: 74
4. Garbutt: 58
5. West End: 52
6. Townsville City: 45
7. Condon: 44
8. Idalia: 41
9. Annandale: 35
10. South Townsville 31
Robbery offences
1. Thuringowa Central: 25
2. Kirwan: 21
3. Aitkenvale: 16
4. Pimlico: 11
5. Garbutt: 10
6. Townsville City: 10
7. Currajong: 8
8. South Townsville: 8
9. West End: 7
10. Condon: 6
Our city’s changing crime landscape
Townsville is facing troubling new trends in youth crime, with a spike in female offenders and younger children driving stolen cars, police say.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd says girls are no longer just bystanders in youth crime but are now often the ringleaders, with female offenders increasing by a staggering 68 per cent over the past decade.
“Girls are now often the principal offenders, rather than just accompanying their male counterparts,” DI Shepherd said.
Younger offenders are also causing concern, with police recently catching a 12-year-old boy behind the wheel of a stolen car.
DI Shepherd says drug use is fuelling the issue, with methamphetamine driving risk-taking behaviour and creating a dangerous mix on Townsville roads.
While police have made progress using tools like PolAir and Operation Romney, which have cut the duration of stolen car crime sprees, DI Shepherd acknowledges the community’s frustration.
“Until you’re a victim, you don’t realise how much of a violation it feels like that someone’s been in your home,” he said.
“They may be right next to your bed while you’re sleeping, taking your car keys or phone. That’s a huge emotional trauma.”
Shepherd believes social media amplifies the problem, making it seem like there’s more crime than the statistics reflect.
“One stolen car might be seen burning in one place, then driven dangerously elsewhere, and suddenly it feels like it’s a bigger problem than it is,” he explained.
To further address car theft and youth crime, police are urging residents to remain vigilant, emphasising the value of CCTV footage and secure home practices during the holiday season.
Turning troubled young lives around
While police focus on enforcement, programs like the Ted Noffs Foundation’s Street University in Kirwan aim to tackle the roots of youth crime.
CEO Matt Noffs said the centre has worked with over 600 young people since it opened a year ago, many of whom are grappling with drug addiction, trauma, and mental health issues.
“Our focus is to see as many of those kids as into treatment as possible, so that we’re addressing not only issues like drugs and alcohol, but looking at the root causes of their offending,” he said.
He said surveys of the children who attend their Kirwan campus — many who are considered some of the most troubled young offenders in the city — show that many have issues with substances with cannabis the primary drug of choice (68.3 per cent), alcohol accounting for 19.5 per cent and amphetamines 2.4 per cent.
Beyond substance use, the challenges faced by these youths are profound. Thirty-six per cent of participants reported a history of self-harm, while 27 per cent admitted to attempting suicide.
Past trauma also remains a significant factor, with 75 per cent experiencing physical assault from someone they knew, 44 per cent suffering severe ongoing emotional abuse, and 28 per cent reporting physical assault from a stranger.
The Street University has become a crucial lifeline, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, who make up 63 per cent of attendees.
Mr Noffs said the campus had been able to capture and engage young people who have stolen cars in the past and provide them with alternative outlets.
While he acknowledged that juveniles who commit serious crimes do need to face consequences for their actions, he warned against over reliance on detention as a solution, citing a 75 per cent recidivism rate for youth offenders.
“The question isn’t whether you need detention or not, but how much you rely on it,” he said. “If you’re sending too many kids to detention, you’re creating more criminals.”
Originally published as 2024 in review: Crime drops in Townsville, but hotspots remain
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