Stunning drop in number of cars seized by cops on Gold Coast

The number of drivers having their cars impounded or plates confiscated has fallen dramatically despite an upsurge in hooning activity on the Gold Coast. FULL DETAILS

THE number of drivers having their cars impounded or plates confiscated has fallen dramatically despite an upsurge in hooning activity on the Gold Coast.

Under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act officers have the ability to seize vehicles or confiscate plates for offences including performing burnouts, evading police, speeding or drink driving.

Figures provided by the Queensland Police Service show the measures were used in the South Eastern Region just 515 times in the seven months since the start of the financial year until the end of January.

If current trends continue, that puts police on track to use the powers just under 900 times this financial year.

That would be a significant decrease on the 2020-21 figure of 1224, which itself was a 25 per cent drop on the 1648 recorded in 2019-20 and 1657 in 2018-19.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said he was constantly being contacted by residents angered by hooning.

Mr Langbroek said more confiscation of vehicles was needed.

“The deterrent effect of confiscating vehicles I believe and most of the public believes would be very effective,” Mr Langbroek said.

“But at the moment we’re just not seeing it.

“There are more vehicles now then there were three or four years ago, we know there’s more offending, so we need more confiscations to send a message.”

The Bulletin has in recent months documented an upsurge in hooning activities in a number of northern Gold Coast suburbs.

Revheads have caused chaos in an Arundel industrial estate, performing burnouts, stealing tyres and damaging property.

A car which had its plates confiscated by police after a hooning meet in Woongoolba in January. Picture: Keith Woods.

Rowdy meet-ups have also been recorded at Woongoolba, with residents saying a local street has been turned into a racetrack.

Mr Langbroek said part of the problem was police resources were being used at the border and quarantine hotels.

“The police have been busy,” he said. “We’re finally seeing traffic patrols back on the road. We hadn’t seen them for a long time and we understood they were busy with hotels and borders.

“Then we had Omicron affecting police numbers.

“But unfortunately, whether it’s out at Coomera or the industrial estates in Arundel, we’re seeing more hooning.

“There are also constant complaints from areas in Surfers through to Broadbeach. There was a letter in Monday’s paper where someone was calling it ‘Boganbeach’.

“People are contacting me about it all the time.”

'AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH': CRIME THAT'S ROCKING RETAILERS

THE head of the peak body for Australian convenience stores says Gold Coast retailers are seeing increasing numbers of break-ins, while shoplifting is “at an all-time high”.

Australian Association of Convenience Stores CEO Theo Foukkare said stores has been forced to invest more money into security to combat the issue, which was being driven by youth crime.

“Retail crime in convenience stores and service stations continue to be a significant issue for our members,” Mr Foukkare said.

“In a large number of cases, it is being driven by youth crime.

“This issue in not just concentrated in some areas, it is state wide to different varying degrees.
“Fuel drives off continue to be a major issue for our members, tobacco break and enters are increasing and shoplifting is at an all time high.”

Damage to the Spar Express in Oxenford after thieves broke in on Thursday morning.

Mr Foukkare’s comments come after the Bulletin revealed how a busy Spar Express store in Oxenford had been broken into for the third time in just four months.

Five hooded youths smashed their way into the shop at about 3.20am on Thursday February 10, making off with $600-worth of Rapid Antigen Tests after they failed to break open tobacco cabinets.

“A lot of stores have invested in tighter security measures to protect their tobacco with stronger locking systems, tobacco smoke screens that activate when they are broken into,” Mr Foukkare said.

“But when they can’t get in they just destroy the store and everything in their path.”

Mr Foukkare said his association was working with authorities to help combat the problem.

“We are working with Police Minister Mark Ryan and various teams in Queensland, industry peak bodies and retailers to help our members with even better police enforcement when these issues occur,” Mr Foukkare said.

“Our small business retailers are currently facing the most difficult trading period in their lifetime, so the increase in crime is only making it harder.”

OWNERS IN DESPAIR AFTER REPEATED RAIDS

The owners of a busy Gold Coast convenience store say they feel like giving up their business after it was raided for the third time in four months.

Five hooded youths smashed their way into the Spar Express at Michigan Dr in Oxenford at 3.18am on Thursday February 10. Once inside, they used crowbars to try and break open cigarette cabinets. When that failed, they made off with $600-worth of Rapid Antigen Tests.

Owners Duncan Harvey and Grant Hawker said the robbery followed two other break-ins in late October and early November.

“It makes you want to sell up and leave the business,” Mr Harvey said.

“It’s stressful and violating. I know it’s just a convenience store but it’s ours and we work damn hard.

“It’s our customers that make us want to stay. It’s the reason we just on fighting on.”

↑↑ WATCH VIDEO OF THE RAID IN THE PLAYER ABOVE ↑↑

Thieves inside the Spar Express in Oxenford on Thursday morning.

Mr Harvey said the pair faced bills for repairing the damage to the store, as well as the cost of the lost goods.

He said he feared the store’s insurance costs would go up after the raid, coming so hot on the heels of the other two break-ins late last year.

“First time, around midnight, it was just kids, they just took some chocolate bars and stuff,” Mr Harvey said.

“The second time was on November 4, about two weeks later. They completely damaged our old cigarette cabinet and got about $10,000-worth of tobacco products.”

Spar Express Oxenford owners Duncan Harvey and Grant Hawker. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Harvey and Mr Hawker said they were heartened by the backing they received from the local community, with dozens of supportive messages left on their social media accounts on Thursday. “We have so much support,” Mr Hawker said.

They also praised the response of police, but said they believed there was little officers could do about juvenile offenders.

“I’d have every respect for the Queensland police force, they do a great job, but it’s just like a revolving door, if they get to catch them, nothing happens,” Mr Harvey said.

“They should lower the age of criminal offences, because you know what you’re doing at 15 or 16 years old.

“Then when you turn 18 everything’s hunky-dory again. That record should last your life.

A juvenile record shouldn’t be expunged when you turn 18.”

A police spokersperson said investigations into the latest robbery were ongoing.

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