Gold Coast crime: City has ‘had a gutful’ of young thugs terrorising residents

A spate of violent incidents involving young people has shone a shocking spotlight on the problem of youth crime on the Gold Coast.

THE Gold Coast has had enough of young thugs terrorising this city.

Armed kids as young as 12 are holding up convenience stores, stealing luxury cars, bashing innocent people on public transport and stabbing decent teenagers with the world at their feet.

Each week the vicious cycle of kindergarten crooks spins faster and the State Government and authorities are failing to arrest the crisis, despite plenty of warning.

The young thugs are committing the crimes because there is no deterrent.
They are getting younger, more brazen and increasingly violent.

News organisations such as the Bulletin are in a strait jacket to name and shame the little grubs because of archaic laws. Reporters face jail time for identifying the offenders.

We have had a gutful – and so has the public.

As reported in the Bulletin yesterday, the problem has got so bad paying passengers are now abusing fragile bus drivers for letting bludging youths travel for free.

The drivers have told the Bulletin the fare evaders are using the buses as a “free taxi” before and after armed thefts. The fare evading alone is costing the Government $25 million a year in lost revenue.

Bus drivers have told the Bulletin that fare evaders are using the buses as a “free taxi” before and after committing offences.

No one can put a price on the terror.

Authorities have tried to peddle the notion that only a small minority of youths are committing the heavy crimes. That is cold comfort to the increasing number of innocent people and families whose lives are being torn apart. In many instances, those victims cannot even eye the offenders in court because they are protected under the Youth Justice Act.

The system needs an overhaul – it reeks – and requires support from child safety.

The Bulletin has exposed massive rorts within the latter in the past year, including taxpayers being slugged $1.4 million a year to look after one child.

Jack Beasley was killed in Surfers Paradise in December. Picture Facebook

Last November, we also revealed a whistleblower had lost his job because he told the Government a youth in care was allowed to travel to the Gold Coast each day to score pot off his mother. Despite the revelations, the State Government is refusing a review of the bloated mire.

Cynics suggest it is because of what will be found and how much it is costing the taxpayer.

All thresholds of society are feeling the youth crime epidemic: business, tourism, public safety, the poor and the rich. The little grubs do not discriminate.

Yet what is being done?

In December, a beautiful boy was killed while walking through Surfers Paradise, minding his own business, at 8pm on a Friday.

Jack Beasley’s death infuriated the city. Still, the Gold Coast has been forced to put up with more senseless thuggery and threats from youths in the weeks following Jack’s killing. The latest case to be made public is a 12–year-old boy who held up a convenience store with a mate.

Enough is enough.

The Gold Coast deserves an explanation from the Government and authorities on how they will cut the rot.
They have had plenty of time to come up with a plan. Let’s see it.