Townsville mum loses 3 cars in 3 years to juvenile thieves who boast to social media

A Queensland mother is scared to live in her own home after having to watch a livestream of juvenile offenders who stole her car, torched it, and boasted to social media as they drove at lethal speeds.

A Queensland mother is scared to live in her own home after juveniles allegedly stole three of her luxury cars in as many years, boasting to social media as they drove at lethal speeds.

Sera Shin, who lives in the crime-riddled city of Townsville, watched helplessly as the alleged thieves livestreamed her BMW being driven at more than 220km/h before they set it on fire in December.

It was the third car to be stolen from her home in three years, with Ms Shin saying her family had lost $200,000 worth of vehicles and were now contemplating moving to an apartment block or a different city to keep safe.

Victim of crime Sera Shin, has had three cars stolen in three years. Picture: Liam Kidston

“No one can protect us, we can only protect our family,” Ms Shin said.

The most recent ordeal unfolded in broad daylight when two young thieves allegedly popped the lock on a door to her house and crept inside about 7am, coming face-to-face with a member of Ms Shin’s family.

It is alleged the thieves gestured for the terrified family member to be quiet, before grabbing the keys to Ms Shin’s BMW and fleeing. “(They were) just frozen and couldn’t do anything,” Ms Shin said.

Within hours, police say the young alleged thieves were filming themselves inside Ms Shin’s prized possession, livestreaming their exploits to Instagram.

A young car thief in a Instagram Story standing through the sunroof of Sera Shin's BMW after it was stolen and driven around Townsville at high speeds.

Videos surfaced online of the masked alleged offenders speeding at more than 220km/h, driving to Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, hanging out of the sunroof and posing with the car like a prize. Ms Shin watched it all unfold online unable to do anything.

“I was just watching them, waiting for them to abandon the car.

“I think they are playing in competition to see who can steal the better car, the nicer car. I think that’s what they’re doing to me.

“They just show off to people what they do, they’re driving the car dangerously, it’s just ridiculous.”

The alleged thieves eventually abandoned the car and set it on fire.

A young car thief in a Instagram Story standing through the sunroof of Sera Shin's BMW after it was stolen and driven around Townsville at high speeds.

Ms Shin has been the victim of two other car thefts: that of a Mustang in 2022 and her husband’s Ranger in 2021.

Including flood damage, the family have lost about $200,000 worth of vehicles in three years.

Ms Shin recently purchased her fourth car in four years, saying she feared she was being targeted or had bad luck.

“I’m locking all my doors, I have deadlocks,” she said. “But they are getting smarter. They study how to get in the house and don’t care if there is someone inside.

“Sometimes we can’t sleep at night and wake up and check the house.

“I don’t feel safe, not at all. When they come back (from detention), they’ll be starting again.”

Sera Shin's BMW was lit on fire after being stolen and driven at high speeds by offenders.

Originally published as Townsville mum loses 3 cars in 3 years to juvenile thieves who boast to social media