Gold Coast Crime: Benowa Waters vigilante group taking on ‘out of control crime’

CCTV captures the moment brazen thieves jump the fence at a Gold Coast family home and ram a gate to make off with cars, while the owners were inside.

MEMBERS of a suburban vigilante group say they will take matters into its own hands to combat “out of control crime” after two luxury cars were stolen on Sunday.

The incident was caught on CCTV.

Police were called around 6.30am after reports two luxury cars were stolen from a Cabana Boulevard home at Benowa.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek, who visited the scene, said the homeowners were “absolutely petrified” after their Mercedes and Lexus were stolen.

Those responsible rammed the gate open while the owners were at home.

Two cars were stolen from the Cabana Boulevard residence. Photo: Supplied.

“The owners were almost run down by their own car trying to stop the crime,” he said.

A Queensland Police spokesman said investigations were ongoing.

Resident and real-estate agent Critton Astras, 53, said fathers, husbands and business owners were patrolling the area after 10pm to prevent further crime.

“Today, was the breaking point,” he said.

“The crime in canal streets is out of control, the worst I have ever seen.

“If something doesn’t happen quickly someone is going to get killed and it will either be a resident or criminal.

“We have baseball bats and I know some residents with guns.”

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Mr Astras said the area now has a Benowa Waters Neighbourhood Watch committee and they have raised $8000 for CCTV cameras and are fundraising to employ a security guard to patrol the area from 10pm to 6am daily.

Mr Langbroek said there was a Coast crime epidemic, especially in his electorate.

Coast MP says there is a crime wave, especially from Main Beach to Broadbeach.

“I don’t know if there is lack of police resources in the suburbs due to border duties but I have very frustrated members in my constituent,” he said.

“I am worried someone is going to get injured because they are frustrated the police are not able to do enough.

“We need more police resources throughout the Coast, tougher laws, courts backing it up and Labor getting an understanding on what’s happening on the Gold Coast because they don’t seem to get it.”

He has started a petition asking the government to provide more police on the Gold Coast.