Teenage criminals avoid hotel quarantine after taking stolen car on joyride across Gold Coast border

Border residents are furious after teen crooks took a stolen car for a joyride into NSW – but were let off hotel quarantine when they came back into Queensland.

TEEN crooks who took a stolen car for a joyride across the NSW border before re-entering Queensland were let off hotel quarantine by Queensland Health.

The stolen Volkswagen Amarok, taken from a Pacific Pines property, sped through a border checkpoint on Saturday.

It was found the following day at Tamborine, where two children, aged 13 and 16, were charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

It’s understood at least one of the teens charged was in the vehicle when it crossed the border but was not made to hotel quarantine.

Police and the ADF at the Queensland border on Griffith Street, Coolangatta. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

A woman, who attended border protests in August, said she was furious the young offenders weren’t forced to quarantine, saying there was a “huge double standard”.

“It’s infuriating that these crooks were allowed to cross the border and return without consequences while two protesters were placed into hotel quarantine by police after taking a few steps across the border because they didn’t have a permit,” she said.

“The whole system is a joke – thieves are given more rights than families desperate to get into Queensland to attend funerals, see their dying parents or have cancer treatment.”

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said at the time of the arrest police were unable to “establish that those particular juveniles were in NSW”.

“Subsequent follow up investigations determined the occupants of that particular vehicle spent a small amount of time in NSW and were contained within the vehicle,” the spokeswoman said.

Police and the ADF at the Queensland border on the Gold Coast Hwy, Coolangatta. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

“Queensland Health (QH) were consulted on these matters and provided advice to police. “Inquiries relating to quarantine in such circumstances should be directed to Queensland Health.”

It’s understood the department advised the QPS the juveniles did not need to quarantine as police investigations found they did not get out of the vehicle while in NSW.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said anyone arriving in Queensland from a hotspot was required to have an approved exemption to enter the state.

“Upon arrival into Queensland, they must undertake 14 days mandatory hotel government nominated quarantine at their own expense,” she said.

An exemption is required for anyone who wants to enter Queensland from a declared hotspot.

Failure to comply with public health directions can result in an on the spot fine of $1334 for individuals or a court imposed penalty of up $13,345 or six months imprisonment.

Follow @emilytoxward