Townsville youth crime: Gutsy gardener chases down masked intruders with a hose, punches getaway car in Mount Louisa

Shocking footage shows the moment a group of masked teen thieves brazenly crept into a Townsville yard — only to be chased off by a furious local armed with nothing but a garden hose. Read his account of what happened here.

Shocking footage shows the moment a group of masked teen thieves brazenly crept into a Mount Louisa yard — only to be chased off by a furious local armed with nothing but a garden hose.

Just after 4pm on Monday, Richard Sheppard was out watering his plants at his home on Minaret Way when he noticed something wasn’t right.

He’d left his garage roller door up while working in the garden and it only took seconds for a gang of teenage car thieves to leap at the opportunity.

In the CCTV footage, one teen can be seen slipping into Mr Sheppard’s garage to check out his prized Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series wagon, while a younger lookout kept watch just metres from where Mr Sheppard stood around the side of the house, watering the plants.

CCTV shows the masked teens creeping into the Minaret Way yard in Mount Louisa before the homeowner watering his plants catches them in the act and on May 5.

“I heard the sound of a car engine and peeked around the corner, only to come face-to-face with the lookout,” he said.

“He took off running — and I took off after him, yelling a few choice words.”

But the drama didn’t stop there.

“I didn’t realise one of the grubs was still in the garage,” Mr Sheppard said.

CCTV shows the masked teens creeping into the Minaret Way yard in Mount Louisa before the homeowner watering his plants catches them in the act and on May 5.

“You can see me in the video, a bit shocked when he comes out — but I chased him too.

“I chased them all the way to the car where their getaway driver was waiting. I was so angry I punched the backseat window and it broke a bit.”

Mr Sheppard, who’s lived in the neighbourhood for decades, said he was stunned by just how brazen the teens had been.

“It was broad daylight — 4pm in the bloody afternoon — I was standing right there and they didn’t bat an eyelid,” he said.

“It was so brazen. They’re lucky I only had a hose and not a baseball bat.”

CCTV shows the masked teens creeping into the Minaret Way yard in Mount Louisa before the homeowner watering his plants catches them in the act and on May 5.

He added that while his home had never been hit before, neighbours hadn’t been so lucky. “One of them had two taken in one night,” he said.

The masked teens fled in a white SUV, believed to be stolen.

Police are investigating, but no arrests have been made at this stage.

Originally published as Townsville youth crime: Gutsy gardener chases down masked intruders with a hose, punches getaway car in Mount Louisa