Cairns stolen cars: Detective Inspector Kevin Goan warns of black market trend

A top cop has warned of a recent trend police have noticed with the increasing numbers of cars being stolen. FIND OUT WHAT IT IS

STOLEN car keys and the addresses they were pilfered from are being shopped around on a black market for criminals, a top cop has warned.

Far North District Crime Group Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said police had noticed this new trend around the streets.

“Some of those trends are the very simple targeting of car keys from break and enters,” Det Insp Goan said.

“We see instances where keys are stolen and nothing else is disturbed.

“From our intelligence we see the keys become a black market commodity where the keys themselves are sold to others and an address is provided so they can turn up at the house and take the car.”

Far North Queensland police Detective inspector Kevin Goan. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cars are being stolen at a dramatic rate across the Far North and as of April 14 there had been 55 cars taken in April with 396 taken so far this year.

This compared to a total number of 782 cars stolen in 2021.

Det Insp Goan said it was important to bring the new trend to the public’s attention so they could be vigilant.

“The reason we would bring that to the public is so they can take initial steps of securing valuables and ensuring premises are secured to reduce the opportunity of them becoming victims,” Det Insp Goan said.

But the main thing police are trying to reduce is people being broken into multiple times.

“We have a very strong focus on doing all we can to stop people from becoming repeat victims.

Keys are being targeted for a black market.

“That’s where they’re targeted on more than one occasion for these property related offences and again we need community support.”

Det Insp Goan said there were a few steps that could be taken.

“Our job is to reduce the instances of people becoming victims of crime, clearly there’s only so much we can do. So it’s important for us to educate the public on emerging trends,” he said.

“We need everyone in the community to report what it is they are seeing in the community.

“If they see a suspicious car coming and going, and youth approaching houses to report to crimestoppers.

“Where they have CCTV of their own make that available through online reporting.”

Det Insp Goan said police were taking major steps and the clear up rate for property crime is greater than the state average.

Originally published as Cairns stolen cars: Detective Inspector Kevin Goan warns of black market trend