Resident capture videos of stolen vehicles terrorising the streets of Townsville

Concerned Townsville residents have captured video footage of multiple stolen vehicles rampaging throughout the city on Sunday. The Opposition leader has spoken out about the chaos. Check out the video.

CONCERNED Townsville residents have shared videos onto social media which capture stolen vehicles being driven dangerously around the city’s streets on Sunday.

It comes as Opposition leader David Crisafulli questioned when the chaos would end on a visit to Townsville on Monday.

“At what point will we get back to having consequences for actions? Do we have to continue seeing this every day until someone gets killed? Is that what its going to take?.” Mr Crisafulli said.

Just before 2pm, a driver heading southbound on Racecourse Rd, Cluden, captured dashcam vision of a stolen silver Holden Commodore being driven on the wrong side of the road towards him.

Fortunately, he was able to safely evade the vehicle.

Not long after, a Vincent resident videoed a stolen grey VW Amarok doing doughnuts and kicking up clouds of dust in a car park on Cambridge St before it sped off, just after 3.20pm,

Recognising the distinct black wheels and roll bar, the vehicle’s owner said it was stolen from his Douglas house in the early hours of Saturday morning.

While they were unable to confirm how the theft took place, he suspected that they gained access through a back door.

After posting about the theft on social media and appealing for help locating the missing vehicle, the Douglas man was bombarded by sightings with people with the ute reportedly being driven “non-stop” around Kirwan, Heatley, Stockland, Mount Louisa, and Kelso areas.

On seven separate occasions he has seen the vehicle being driven dangerously around the city carrying between three and seven juveniles.

“It seems to be two different separate groups that we keep seeing they keep swapping over drivers,” he said.

“I’m more concerned than anything because it’s been roaming around the same area for two days and it’s not exactly driving safely

“(I’ve seen them) sideswipe a car on Kern Brothers Drive, run red lights, go 100km/hr in a 50km zone, stuff like that.”

While he understood why police had a no pursuit policy, the man expressed frustration, especially after watching the vehicle being brazenly driven around the city for two days, including one occasion straight past a police vehicle at the busy Nathan St and Ross River Rd intersection in Aitkenvale.

“I thought there would be a bit more priority on it,” he said.

“(The thefts) tend to be a repetitive thing up here in Townsville. I feel like there should be some type of a plan put in place using road spikes or something.”

Mr Crisafulli addressed the videos at a press conference in the city on Monday, saying the level of crime had become “business as usual”.

“I’m not comfortable with seeing everyday, law-abiding citizens having some lunatic driving at them the wrong way. This has got to stop,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli wouldn’t speculate when the LNP’s crime plan would be released, but insisted it would have a few main focuses, including breach of bail and preventive measures.

“You can’t just be one way traffic all on the enforce, you also have to give people hope, opportunity, and explain what education and employment can do for their life,” Mr Crisafulli said.

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed that their investigation was underway after a silver 2021 Volkswagen Amarok dual cab was stolen from a Douglas address on Friday night.

The Amarok was dumped in Kirwan about 10pm on Sunday and the occupants fled on foot.

“Investigators believe the vehicle has been involved in an alleged fuel drive-off at an Aitkenvale business (on Sunday) morning and has been linked to reported dangerous driving incidents,” the spokesman said.

“Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen this vehicle driving in the Townsville area to come forward. Investigations are ongoing.”

He said police were also investigating the theft of a silver 2008 Holden Commodore sedan from a Kelso address on Saturday.

The Commodore was dumped on Charles St about 4.20am on Monday, but the occupants got away in another vehicle.

“Initial investigations indicate the vehicle was stolen from a Gardiner Street residence between 2am and 5pm,” he said.

“The vehicle has reportedly been linked to reported dangerous driving incidents.”

Queensland Police are working relentlessly to prevent and disrupt property crime and vehicle theft in the Greater Townsville Area.

Members of the community were urged to report any suspicious behaviour via Policelink online or by phoning 131444, which includes access to the world-leading Axon Citizen System, allowing the public to easily and securely provide digital evidence with more than 20,000 Queenslanders doing so this year to date.

Originally published as Resident capture videos of stolen vehicles terrorising the streets of Townsville