Four people after they allegedly attempted to steal a motorbike from Riverlinks in Helensvale

Residents of a luxury Gold Coast enclave have used their own cars to block the escape of alleged thieves in an area locals say is plagued by crime – including an incident this week where a youth appeared to be armed with a gun. FULL DETAILS

Residents of a luxury Gold Coast estate blocked a street with their own cars on Thursday to stop alleged thieves from escaping the neighbourhood.

Police were called to Riverlinks Boulevard in Helensvale at 3.53am after reports two 16-year-old men, an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were allegedly attempting to steal a motorbike.

Sam Pila Siufaga, 18, Erin Shireene Barnes, 21, both had their matters mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Residents blocked a road on a bridge out of the area with their own vehicles, which were badly damaged when the alleged perpetrators rammed them with a white Toyota Corolla. Police allege the Toyota was stolen from a house in Surfers Paradise on April 21.

The scene at Riverlinks in Helensvale in the early hours of the morning on Thursday April 27 after residents used their own vehicles to block the escape of alleged thieves.

The four took off on foot but were arrested by police nearby a short time later.

Residents told the Bulletin that just a day earlier a youth had been captured allegedly attempting to break into a house in the area armed with what appeared to be a handgun.

It is not alleged by police that this is connected to the most recent alleged incident.

In another unrelated incident, on April 4, a Maserati was stolen and a Porsche damaged during a terrifying home invasion in another part of the estate, when a gun and knife was allegedly used. Two people were charged in relation to that incident.

The scene at Riverlinks in Helensvale in the early hours of the morning on Thursday April 27 after residents used their own vehicles to block the escape of alleged thieves.

“It’s been going on for months,” one resident said.

Another resident told the Bulletin they were woken early on Thursday by the sound of loud bangs and voices as the commotion unfolded near their home.

The resident said locals had been on the alert for more theft attempts after a spate of recent incidents.

“It woke me up,” the resident said. “There were a load of people.

“The neighbours, everybody’s fed up with it. A group of them are keeping watch at night.

“We’re sick of worrying. We hide our (car) keys in the house.”

Image captured on a security camera of a youth who appears to be carrying a gun outside a house in Riverlinks, Helensvale in the early hours of April 26.

The resident said they believed Thursday morning’s incident unfolded after alleged thieves were spotted by a householder on their security camera, who then alerted others.

“Someone saw them on their cameras. They and another guy went out.

“I just got woken up by a loud bang and then I heard voices.

“I saw the flashing lights as the police went by. They were here pretty quickly.”

Gold Coast police acting Superintendent Scott Knowles said he understood the “frustration” of residents who sprung into action.

“What they need to be mindful of is issues around insurance of their vehicles if they are used in this manner,” he said.

“It may void their insurance policies which is going to cause the significant issues down the track.

A bridge at Riverlinks in Helensvale where residents used their own vehicles to block the escape of alleged thieves in the early hours of April 27.,

“There’s also issues around the potential use of force that was used at the time, which may also cause some problems.

“Whilst I can understand the frustration of the community, they just need to be mindful in acting in place of police, especially given we were on scene, and the potential issues it could raise for them.”

Acting Supt Knowles said no complaints had been made about excessive use of force by residents.

He said that the alleged thieves were disturbed early and not a lot of property had been taken.

Acting Supt Knowles said he was aware the area had been targeted lately, though it is not police’s case that the alleged perpetrators in Thursday’s incident were involved in the previous incidents.

“Just make sure you secure your property,” he said.

“Offenders will start to target areas of affluence or where there is opportunities.

“Once they realise there are opportunities in these ­environments they will certainly start to exploit those opportunities.”

Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles.

Police investigations are ongoing into both Wednesday and Thursday morning’s incidents.

As for Thursday’s court proceedings in relation to the blockade, Duty lawyer Basil Karsas made an application for bail on Barnes’ behalf, saying the mother of four was only briefly a passenger in the allegedly stolen vehicle and was not otherwise involved.

“She was in a very bad way yesterday and and was picked up by the other co-accused, who were friends of hers and concerned for her well-being as she was walking the streets very upset,” Mr Karsas said.

“She had heard from her children living in Townsville, (and) effectively she was consoled momentarily as she went into the car.

“She soon fell asleep and woke up to effectively being surrounded by residents and detained.”

Prosecutor Chris Freeman said police opposed Barnes’ bail, saying she was previously sentenced to jail terms similar offending and would pose an unacceptable risk of reoffending or skipping court.

Barnes’ bail application was refused. She will be remanded in custody until her case returns to court on May 18.

Co-accused Siufaga did not appear in person or apply for bail. His matter will next be mentioned on May 9.

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