Insurer RACQ reveals massive jump in car theft claims on Gold Coast

A leading insurer says car theft claims have taken a massive jump on the Gold Coast, with a young family revealing their terror after having their vehicles stolen by a juvenile gang.

A leading insurer has recorded an astonishing jump in car theft claims on the Gold Coast amid a surge of offences involving juvenile offenders.

RACQ is warning motorists in the city to be extra vigilant after clocking a 62 per cent increase in claims in the last financial year.

The insurer’s figures also put the Gold Coast in the top five regions in Queensland for claims frequency, ahead of places such as Cairns, Mackay, Toowoomba and Ipswich.

Official Queensland Police Service figures also suggest a big rise in car thefts on the Gold Coast in the period, with the offence of Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle up 11 per cent.

RACQ Chief Executive Insurance Trent Sayers said it was alarming to see such a substantial year-on-year increase.

“Even though many of us enjoy our coastal regions for a slower-paced lifestyle, it’s important for Queenslanders to be aware that car theft can happen anywhere,” Mr Sayers said.

“Across the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, residential areas and popular tourist spots have been targeted.

“It’s troubling to see such large spikes in the number of claims for these areas, so we are urging Queenslanders to remain vigilant.”

RACQ Group Executive Insurance Trent Sayers

The figures, covering the 12 months to the end of June, were revealed as the Gold Coast continues to see a high number of car thefts, many involving juveniles.

The cases include:

* A 14-year-old accused of being behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi SUV stolen from a Carrara address when it rammed three police cars at a Palm Beach service station.

* Five males between 14 and 21 charged in relation to stolen Mercedes and Ford Ranger vehicles tracked across the Gold Coast on August 11.

* A Toyota Kluger stolen on August 3 as a man was loading a gift purchased for a child’s birthday into the back. The RACQ said its research revealed car theft fears had substantially increased, with 54.2 per cent of southeast Queensland residents now being very or extremely concerned, compared with 38.1 per cent during the same period last year.

The data also showed thieves were most active after dark, with thefts most likely to occur on weekdays between 11pm and 4am.

Mr Sayers said it meant car owners should be careful about where they left their vehicles overnight.

“Where possible, park your car overnight in a locked garage or gated driveway and lock your car, even when it’s parked in a secure location,” Mr Sayers said.

“For those who don’t have access to a secure location, park in a well-lit or populated area and don’t leave any valuables in your car.”

Stolen ute at Westfield Helensvale on Aug 11 2024

Compounding the worry for car owners, Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles from Gold Coast police said that in many cases thieves could only steal vehicles if they got access to keys – meaning they often broke into properties first.

He said it meant people needed to also make sure their properties were well secured at night.

“What our statistics are indicating for us is a third of burglaries where these keys are being stolen entry is actually through unlocked windows and unlocked doors. So the first thing I would recommend is make sure you lock your premises,” he said.

“A lot of these offenders are only going into the houses specifically for the keys of these vehicles because the technology we have in motor vehicles now prevent their theft. It essentially requires the keys (to take them).

“So please make sure you secure your dwellings and places where you are. Make sure you lock your vehicles and secure your keys away from where they are easy to find.”

VICTIMS REVEAL THEIR FEAR AFTER HOUSE BROKEN INTO AND CAR STOLEN

A couple with a young child have been left fearful juvenile offenders will return to their northern Gold Coast home after having both their cars stolen just days after they moved in.

The man and woman, who asked not to be named, have had to quickly get locks and garage door fobs changed to ensure their property is secure after a gang of youths broke into their home and stole keys at 6am on Saturday morning.

The thieves made off with the couple’s two cars. One was soon recovered in a nearby underground car park thanks to a tracking feature, while the other was last seen being driven at speed on Sunday by a male described as looking about 12 or 13 years of age.

“To have your privacy invaded and just to feel so violated, that someone thinks it’s ok to jump my gate – because it was locked – and then enter into my home. It’s extremely frightening and we just have no control,” the woman said.

“The police said they may come back, because obviously we recovered one car. The police said they may come back for it.

“So last night we had a locksmith here changing all of our locks, we had the garage remote people here reprogramming the garage door, I’ve had to get onto my car dealer to deactivate one of my car keys, because they have got one. It’s insane.”

A couple have been left fearful after their cars were stolen by a juvenile gang from their northern Gold Coast home.

The woman said her biggest fear was for her young daughter, who had already been unsettled by moving home.

“Protecting my child, that’s the biggest thing. The money and the cars, we’ve got insurance, we can get them back. But it’s the inconvenience. And the fear that’s installed in my child at the moment is wild.

“ ... We have a four-year-old daughter and trying to deal with the police at our home, fingerprinting back doors. Obviously she’s very unsettled, and then (we’re having to) try to get her ears away from conversations that are happening. She’s already frightened in her new home. She’s very unsettled. Last night was very hard.”

CCTV from a neighbouring house showed at least four youths pulling up outside the couple’s house in two cars. Two got out and broke in, took the keys to their cars, with all four vehicles then speeding away. The couple’s belongings were flung out of the vehicles in the car park of a nearby state school.

The woman’s husband said people in the area were increasingly fed up with the break-ins and car thefts taking place and he feared someone may get hurt.

“Based on what the police told us the kids going around these suburbs are between 13 and 15 years old,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.

“It’s going to cause a lot of problems in the area, because if you read the posts (on social media), everyone wants a piece of these people.”

Source: RACQ. Note: The ranking is calculated by looking at the total number of RACQ car theft claims divided by the number of RACQ car insurance policies in each region.

Follow @keithjwoods