Neighbourhood Watch could be key to fewer break-ins on Gold Coast, says Crichlow
DAWN Crichlow has touted Neighbourhood Watch as the key to reducing break-ins, particularly in hotspot areas across the Gold Coast.
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SOUTHPORT councillor Dawn Crichlow has championed Neighbourhood Watch groups as the key to reducing break-ins on the Gold Coast.
Southport recorded a staggering 302 break-ins in 2017, according to data from the Queensland Police Crime Map, which shows a breakdown of suburbs throughout the city.
Last year there were 3972 break and enters recorded on the Gold Coast.
Cr Crichlow said the differences between Southport and neighbouring suburbs of Molendinar and Parkwood, which recorded 64 and 63 break-ins respectively, could be due to Neighbourhood Watch.
“Molendinar and Parkwood have got very strong Neighbourhood Watches, very strong,” she said.
“I don’t think Southport has ever had one ... It takes dedicated community people to have dedicated Watches. That to me is the answer.”
Cr Crichlow said drugs were also an issue and suspected a number of break-ins were related to drugs.
Northern Patrol Group Inspector Scott MacQueen said Neighbourhood Watch in areas with higher break-ins were “definitely beneficial.”
Northern suburbs rated highly for property offences on the map, including Upper Coomera (172), Pimpama (146), Helensvale (135) and Ormeau (123).
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” he said.
“The northern Gold Coast is a growing area, with huge building applications and construction and as a result there’s more opportunities for offences.
“People are commuting up to places like Brisbane for work, so there’s no one at home.”
He said the community-based initiative would benefit those in the area, police and homeowners.
Insp MacQueen said police were working on the issue by targeting hot spots, working with security in estates, doing traffic patrols and patrolling the rail network to counter offenders.
Taskforce Latro and RAP were tackling the issue and there had been a redeployment of officers from Surfers Paradise to Coomera as well, he said.
Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said property crime was up 4 per cent across the state and had been increasing for the past three years.
“If we’ve got a spike in crime there’s no reason not to go out and tell the community of the crime issue,” he said, adding police seemed to be reluctant to alert residents.
“But it’s part of crime prevention. There’s benefits of keeping people aware of crime trends in the area.”
According to the QPS data, southern suburbs tended to record fewer break-ins, with Tallai (29), Tallebudgera (27) and Currumbin (25) with lesser numbers.
Hinterland suburbs recorded single figures, including Beechmont (6) and Tallebudgera Valley (9).
Detectives from dedicated property theft taskforce, Latro, were unable to comment.
TOP 20 SUBURBS
Southport - 302
Surfers Paradise - 254
Upper Coomera - 172
Pimpama - 146
Helensvale - 135
Labrador - 134
Nerang - 130
Ormeau - 123
Robina - 114
Burleigh Heads - 112
Ashmore - 104
Palm Beach - 104
Coomera - 92
Mermaid Waters - 86
Varsity Lakes - 83
Bundall - 80
Mudgeeraba - 77
Broadbeach Waters - 77
Mermaid Beach - 77
Oxenford - 71
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