Gold Coast crime: Police reveal ‘ongoing issue’ of how teens are storing stolen cars in car parks, suburban streets

Juvenile thieves are hiding stolen cars in suburban streets and in populated city car parks to extend their joy rides.

JUVENILE thieves are hiding stolen cars in suburban streets and city car parks to extend their joy rides.

The Bulletin has been told at least one Gold Coast business began securing its carpark at night after it became a hotspot for stolen cars.

Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the storing of cars was an “ongoing issue” and that police were working with council, residential apartments and hotels.

He said he suspected teen thieves hid their stolen vehicles so they had “ready access” to either joy ride or to commit other offences.

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“When cars are stolen they are either recovered quickly by police in a day or so, or those that are outstanding for a longer period, it’s obvious that the vehicles are being stored somewhere,” he said.

“There’s three main locations that are the focus of our attention.

“It’s either going to be on a public street among other traffic and members of the public might not even realise, or it’s at a private residence or even in a public carpark.”

Supt Wildman said teen thieves often used different car parks across the Coast – including hotels and motels – “because otherwise it becomes a known location for us”.

“Many of these locations are monitored through CCTV cameras, which assist us in identifying and locating the vehicles and also identifying offenders.”

Teens as young as 12 have been running rampant on Gold Coast streets, breaking into properties and stealing luxury cars.

In one instance this month, a Bentley and expensive jewellery were taken from a Coast home.

Police figures reveal a total of 13 kids were charged over stolen car incidents on the Gold Coast in the five days to Wednesday.

Supt Wildman urged residents to lock up, and if they did see a suspicious car that looks out of place to contact police.

A Youth Justice taskforce targeting the “hardcore” recidivist offenders around the state – of which there are between 20 to 30 on the Gold Coast – was established in February.

The Bulletin on Thursday reported unlawful use of a motor vehicle charges had increased, despite the presence of the taskforce. Acting Mayor Donna Gates said residents had “had enough”.

In the wake of a string of car thefts, highlighted by the Bulletin, a spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next stage of its youth crime plan would involve “intensive, multiagency case management” and the taskforce was “expected to be on the Gold Coast soon”.

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