More than 5000 offences by juvenile criminals across the Gold Coast this year

Shocking police data has shone a spotlight on the startling amount of Gold Coast crime being committed by youth offenders.

The Gold Coast is among the worst in the state for car thefts and robberies at the hands of youth criminals, according to staggering data from the Queensland Police Service.

Juvenile offenders were responsible for almost 60 per cent of the robberies committed across the city between January and November this year. That accounts for 159 of the 278 offences. It’s the third highest number in the state behind North Brisbane in second at 223 and South Brisbane in top spot at 256 robberies by youth offenders.

Robbery and stolen car offences across the Gold Coast.

Almost 40 per cent of car theft offences on the Gold Coast during the same period were committed by juveniles, accounting for 895 of the 2428 stolen vehicles. The Gold Coast again is in third place on the dubious youth car theft leaderboard behind South Brisbane at 956 offences and the Far North with 1017.

Youth criminals have committed 5153 offences across the Gold Coast in the past 12 months with the escalation in offending leaving police frustrated and in disbelief.

In June a youth gang on an alleged crime rampage across an affluent Runaway Bay estate made national headlines during an hours long rampage. In one of the more shocking incidents, CCTV footage captured what appeared to be a masked teenager running up the driveway of a home about 2.30am and tucking-in behind a parked car. The teen then squats, pulling down their pants before emptying their bowel onto the pavement and running off.

They return a few minutes later and remove their T-shirt, using it to wipe-up and discarding it on the ground.

Residents and police were left outraged by the vile act and demanding for a tougher response to serious juvenile offenders.

Police Minister Dan Purdie said new laws introduced by the state government would help curb youth crime. Picture: Liam Kidston

New LNP Police Minister Dan Purdie said the state government’s new Making Queensland Safer Laws which passed state parliament were the first step in tackling the youth crime crisis and driving down the number of victims.

“Young people who have a blatant disregard for the law by committing serious offences in our communities will now have to face the consequences for their actions,” Minister Purdie said.

“We have made it very clear. The Government will drive down victim numbers and put a stop to the spiralling youth crime crisis.”

Under the new laws a term of imprisonment for juveniles is no longer a last resort for magistrates when determining a sentence. Courts are also obligated to prioritise the rights of victims before the rights of the offender.

Minister Purdie said the new laws would be backed with further investment into “gold standard” early intervention programs for juvenile offenders.

Premier David Crisafulli staked his job on bringing down the number of crime victims in the state, later clarifying it would be tied to population increases.

Originally published as More than 5000 offences by juvenile criminals across the Gold Coast this year