Gold Coast crime hot spots for 2018

The Gold Coast has taken out the unenviable title of assault, stolen car and theft capital of Queensland for 2018, an exclusive data crunch by the Bulletin has revealed. Here are the suburbs where you’re most likely to be targeted.

THE Gold Coast has taken out the unenviable title of assault, stolen car and theft capital of Queensland for 2018, an exclusive data crunch by the Bulletin has revealed.

You are also more likely to see the red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror than anywhere else in the state.

Gold Coast motorists have been caught for committing the most traffic infringements in 2018, with a whopping 86 tickets handed out every week.

The figures, pulled from the Queensland Police interactive map, paint a picture of crimes committed from the top of the Coast down to the border and west to the mountain range throughout 2018.

More than five people a day were charged with stealing cars, while over seven people a day were arrested for assault.

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The Gold Coast also had the highest rate of theft, with 17,785 light-fingered people charged with stealing around the region.

The region had the second highest figures for arson, fraud offences and drug arrests, and was third highest for break and enters.

The northern corridor of the Gold Coast was the most crime riddled, with Southport and Coomera police divisions topping every category of crime for the region.

Southport and Surfers Paradise took out the gong as the worst suburbs for crime, with the highest rates for all offences bar prostitution at Broadbeach and arson at Pimpama.

But while the Southport division is blessed with 100 police officers, Coomera sits with just 67, according to a question on notice answered by Police Minister Mark Ryan late last year, although those figures fluctuate with an increased presence felt in the Coomera division from the Rapid Action Patrol group officers.

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A police source told the Bulletin the challenge ahead this year was how to curb the large amount of crime hitting the suburban Gold Coast.

“We are seeing large numbers of calls for assaults and other offences against the person popping up in the suburbs,” a source said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more officers pushed towards the northern end of the Coast to try to bring places like Coomera and Pimpama under control.

“Southport is its own beast and will continue to be a challenge.”

For the suburb, division and district breakdowns, head to goldcoastbulletin.com.au to check out the interactive graphs.