Gold Coast car thefts decrease in 2022 despite the worst December on record

Car thefts have been a hot topic for Gold Coasters in the last few weeks so what is really going on in our streets. Find out more.

Gold Coast car thefts have dropped in the past 12 months despite the city’s worst ever December figures amid a spate of juvenile incidents.

Police figures show 2473 cars were reported stolen in 2022. It’s a drop on a record 2021 when 2594 cars were reported stolen.

Despite the drop, December had a dramatic jump in cars pinched, with 300 vehicles taken off streets and from homes, police data shows.

This is a 40 per cent increase since 2021 and the worst December in two decades.

Bond University Criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said comparing year-on-year Gold Coast figures, the number of car thefts dropped nine per cent. That contrasted to a 20 per cent increase statewide.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“That’s why people have that perception (car thefts are rising). We are an anomaly in the Gold Coast.”

Fear of crime was also driven by exposure to it on social media and media in general, he said.

“There may be a decrease in actual figures, at least at a local level, but not a state level,” he said.

“But fear of crime is just as debilitating as the crime.”

The State Oppositions says the figures highlight a catastrophic fail of Labor’s crime strategy.

Opposition leader and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli said the figures were the worst on record.

“For eight years the State Government watered-down laws and have raised a generation of young criminals running rife,” he said.

“Queenslanders everywhere are paying a high price for the State Government’s soft laws. We’re now seeing the cost of car insurance jump in line with the number cars being stolen.

“This is a failure of leadership and legislation and Queenslanders want change.”

Opposition leader and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli said Queenslanders were pay the price of a jump in car insurance due to the increase in car thefts. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Opposition police spokesman Dale Last said the figures showed motor vehicle theft spiralling.

“More cars are being stolen every day because the Labor Government’s soft on crime strategy is a catastrophic failure,” he said. “Queensland is in the midst of a crime epidemic and after watering down the laws the Palaszczuk Government is now in denial about how serious it is.

“It’s the same kids committing the same crimes in the same areas and Queenslanders, including our hard working police, are fed up with Labor’s revolving door of young criminals.”

A Bulletin report this week revealed a council survey showed almost half of residents travelling on public transport do not feel safe at night, sparking calls to widen police powers on checking for weapons.

A Gold Coast City Council submission to a parliamentary committee examining “Jack’s Law”, backed the Jack Beasley Foundation on introducing legislation so police can use metal detectors.

A wanding trial in Safe Night Precincts (SNPs) – sparked by the stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley in Surfers Paradise in 2019 – will end in April.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates in the council submission called for the measures to be extended beyond the SNPs of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

“To support safety more broadly, the City is supportive of the Bill to extend the trial to all SNPs in addition to public transport stations and on public transport vehicles,” she said.

Queensland Police Gold Coast District child protection and investigation unit Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said there were a number of strategies in place including community engagement and ensuring safety and security of the home is prominent in community thinking.

“It is often the case, opportunistic thieves target residences with unlocked doors or open windows before obtaining car keys and stealing vehicles,” he said.

“Members of the public are encouraged to increase their basic home security by ensuring external doors are kept locked and windows are fitted with security screens or locks.”

Det Insp Dalton said a majority of stolen cars were taken form homes by juveniles and adults under 30.

“With the increased use of social media, we now often see criminals filming and publicising their offending which, in turn, is then broadcast by media outlets,” he said.

“Due to the increased prevalence of this content public perception of crime trends can be affected, which can be at odds with the reality of the crime trends.

On December 19 police also began a statewide operation targeting property crime and anti-social behaviour in crime hot spots.

More than 2100 offenders have been arrested on more than 4500 charges as a part of Operation Uniform Theta.

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