Townsville youth crime: Kids film watch house joyride, stolen car stunts

Youths shamelessly filmed driving a stolen car past the Townsville watch house, listening to police radio and drinking cans of Jim Beam in the latest shocking footage to emerge online.

Youths shamelessly filmed themselves cruising past the Townsville watch house in a stolen car, listening to the police radio and drinking cans of Jim Beam in the latest shocking footage to emerge online.

An Instagram account filled with videos and photos of young people showing off in stolen cars as they refer to themselves as Townsville’s “original criminals” has emerged online.

Among them are clips of youths hooning and throwing rocks at police. The taunting teen offenders also filmed themselves driving past the watch house at the Townsville Magistrate Court.

A highlight reel of some of their exploits shows one girl laughing as she listened to police chasing other kids in stolen cars on a police scanner in her possession.

An Instagram account filled with videos and photos of young people showing off in stolen cars as they refer to themselves as Townsville’s “original criminals” has emerged online.

Videos posted over the last fortnight show youths drinking Jim Beam in a stolen Kia and reaching speeds of almost 180km/h while racing in a convoy on the Townsville Ring Rd.

A Townsville police spokeswoman said they are aware of offenders posting videos on social media and have strategies in place to utilise those social media posts for intelligence.

“Police radios in Townsville can be and are monitored by a large number of people in the community,” she said.

“Police using the radio are aware it is an open channel and is monitored by the community.”

Youths caught posting footage online of stealing a car can now face more time behind bars under new reforms introduced by the Palaszczuk Government in March.

But Opposition Leader David Crisafulli argues the reforms have done very little to actually discourage young people from posting their exploits online.

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy said social media allowed teens to continue to “relive” the thrills of their offending and build notoriety among their friends.

“They’re committing criminal acts to satisfy a thirst for popularity on social media,” he said.

“That’s definitely something we don’t want to encourage, but we’ve got a generation who’ve now grown up with iPads, iPhones etc. Social media is a staple of their lifestyle.”

It comes as concerns grow among some Townsville residents claiming that youths are now using universal garage remotes to gain access to homes and break in.

However, local police said they have not received any reports of universal garage remotes being used to enter properties.

“Most times, access is gained to a property via an unlocked door,” a QPS spokesman said.

Originally published as Townsville youth crime: Kids film watch house joyride, stolen car stunts