Cairns Crime: Rainee Nicholls from White Rock broken into same night as niece

A woman who was broken into on the same night as her niece in a different suburb has expressed horror at the loss of safety in her own home.

A LADY who was broken into on the same night as her niece living in a different suburb has expressed how horrible it was that she doesn’t feel safe in her own home anymore.

Rainee Nicholls from White Rock said it was very scary knowing both were broken into in different suburbs.

“To happen to the same family, different suburbs on the same night is just wrong. The damage they did to the door is not right,” Ms Nicholls said.

She woke up in the morning and noticed an opened door that would usually be shut.

“I had a look around and no big things were gone. I checked the fridge, all the hard liquor had gone, there were maybe 10 bottles of vodka, kahlua, rum,” she said.

Locked in, behind bars in her own home. Rainee Nicholls has taken extra measures to protect her property after a recent break in at her residence. Picture: Emily Barker

“They didn’t touch any beer and didn’t touch any wine. They took the mixers that go with it. We had a party a week before. So we had orange juice, cocktail mixers.”

Ms Nicholls said it was a wet night and she couldn’t hear anything.

“Usually our dogs would hear things and they would woof,” she said.

“But now if the dogs even make a noise, I get the torch and have a look.

“My dogs occasionally want to go out to the toilet but I am very weary.”

Ms Nicholls said the experience left her devastated.

“I feel really violated. . We’ve gone out and spent $1100 on cameras and a light on our driveway,” she said.

“When I go out anywhere I make sure to lock (the) deadlock with the keys and even the windows. I feel it’s really its horrible, I don’t feel safe.”

But the experience has created some new habits for her. Ms Nicholls’ car did not get stolen but she said there were marks left showing they had tried to break in.

As of April 11 there had been 45 cars stolen this month and 386 this year showing the rate rapidly increasing from 782 cars taken in 2021.

White Rock resident Rainee Nicholls has taken extra measures to protect her property after a recent break in at her residence. Picture: Emily Barker

“I am hiding keys now. My spare used to be sitting near my computer but not anymore. We are locking ourselves in,” she said.

In a bizarre coincidence her niece had been broken into the same night.

“My niece they actually broke into her door, they jimmied it open but her partner got out of bed,” she said.

“Its actually a bit scary really. They’d damaged the door pretty badly, but once he woke up they’ve taken off.”

One thing Ms Nicholls was grateful for was the police.

“I can’t speak highly enough of forensic police lady that came,” she said.

“I feel for the police, the police catches these people and the court system lets them go.

“The government needs to do something its just getting out of hand. I feel parents should also be held a bit more accountable.”

Originally published as Cairns Crime: Rainee Nicholls from White Rock broken into same night as niece