Gold Coast crime news: Dirt bike bandits wreck beloved Christmas roo in Mudgeeraba

A family has been left ‘devastated’ after vandals destroyed their Christmas decorations. But community spirit has once again saved the day.

A Mudgeeraba family has been left “devastated” after vandals destroyed their Christmas-themed kangaroo statue.

Resident Robyn Mackenzie posted photos of the damage to her kangaroo wearing a Santa hat on a Facebook community group.

She said four young men on three dirt bikes were seen pulling out of her driveway between 4.30am and 5.15am on Wednesday.

“I don’t understand how anyone can get pleasure from doing this,” Ms Mackenzie said.

“We are devastated and hope our roo is repairable.”

Members of the tight-knit hinterland community have slammed the Grinch act.

“That is terrible – we always like driving past the Xmas Roo,” Ann Metcher said.

“I hope karma catches up with the idiotic culprits. What is wrong with these people?”

“What? That’s so bad. We drive past about three to four times a week and my kids love your beautiful kangaroo! I’m so sorry this has happened,” Rebekah Jane said.

But community spirit has once again saved the day. Residents have rallied around Ms Mackenzie, with many offering their services to repair the roo.

Anyone with information for police should phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

‘Second time this week’: Christmas grinch targets mail – December 15

POLICE are warning residents to be vigilant with their mail after a Gold Coast woman reportedly had her letters tampered with twice in one week.

Brooklyn Manu posted a photo of her opened letters to a Facebook community group with the message “keep an eye on your mailbox”.

“Second time this week all my mail has been opened from the side and put back.”

Mail theft is more prevalent during the festive season as thieves look for cash stuffed into envelopes and snatch Christmas present deliveries.

Police have urged any witnesses or those with CCTV footage of any recent mail tampering incidents to report it.

“We would ask residents to keep their mailboxes locked if possible and check their mailboxes regularly,” a police spokeswoman said.

“Also, consider alternative arrangements for any anticipated valuable items.

“If you have been expecting mail and it hasn’t arrived, please consider following it up and report any items that have gone missing.”

Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mail tampering and theft is more prevalent during the festive season.

Vandals expose Miami Motel as alleged former home of convicted baby killer – November 24

VANDALS have targeted the ruins of a Gold Coast motel by spray-painting the name and details of a convicted child killer who supposedly once lived there.

Peter Chard was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ jail in 2004 for killing his girlfriend’s eight-week-old son Dallas Withers. He was 24.

The convicted killer’s name and a phone number were graffitied of the former site of the Miami Motel, an alleged former home of Chard’s.

The graffiti has since been removed.

After seeing online posts and images of the graffiti on community pages, the public has been divided over whether the act was necessary.

Rhonda Walker said “graffiti in any form just pulls down the suburb, and decency in any form must prevail”.

The former motel – once alleged to be a hotbed for criminal activity – sold in July this year for $2m to an anonymous buyer who hoped to clean-up the block. Plans for the site are yet to be confirmed.

In the meantime, squatters have moved in.

A Queensland Police spokesman said it had received a report of graffiti but there had been no official complaint.

Chemist, convenience shop hit in overnight ram-raids

November 21, 2021

POLICE have launched investigations after a chemist and convenience store were targeted in ram-raid break-and-enters overnight.

A Gold Coast police spokeswoman said the first break-in occurred at the convenience store at the intersection of Benowa Rd and Collins Crescent at Benowa about 2.20am on Tuesday.

She said a stolen white 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque with registration SHAR11 was reversed into the front of the shop.

“An offender got out and used an implement to attempt to smash through the front glass doors,” she said.

“A member of the public saw the incident and the offender/s have driven away from the business.”

The doors of the business were damaged, but the culprits were not able to enter the store.

Thieves then targeted a chemist on Eggersdorf Road at Ormeau, which was broken into about 3.40am.

The same Range Rover SUV was driven into the chemist.

Three people “got out of the vehicle and used implements to smash the glass panel of the business to gain entry.”.

“Once inside property was taken. They left the scene in the vehicle,” the spokeswoman said.

Police have established the SUV was stolen from Ormeau on Thursday, November 18.

Investigations were ongoing later on Tuesday morning.

Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Calls to help find missing Gold Coast teen

November 15: Police are asking for public assistance to find a Gold Coast teenager who was last seen over the weekend.

A 14-year-old boy has been reported missing from a residence at Burleigh Waters.

The teenager was last seen about 8pm on Sunday at an address on Ardisia Ct, Burleigh Heads.

He is described as caucasian with a slim build and 175cm tall. He has strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes and a stud earring in his left ear.

Anyone who may know his whereabouts is urged to contact Queensland Police on 131 444.