Townsville crime: 65-year-old victim speaks out on escalating youth crime violence

Victim of crime who had a six-inch knife thrown at his head by a teen car thief fears more will be killed as offenders become more violent.

A 65-year-old victim of youth crime, who had a six-inch knife thrown at his head by a teen car thief, says he fears more will be killed as juvenile offenders become more violent.

Driving through the quiet streets of Townsville’s North Ward, a passing motorist found himself surrounded by a group of angry youths after he caught them breaking into someone’s home on Stanley St on August 11.

The 65-year-old man, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said he spotted a little boy no older than 11 struggling to push a stolen orange motorbike out of someone’s yard about 1pm.

“I couldn’t help myself. I pulled to the side of the road and told him: Put the f***ing motorbike back,” he said.

A 65-year-old man was left shaken after youths in a stolen car threw a knife at him at North Ward. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“His eyes lit up like saucepans. He dropped the motorbike, but there was a stolen white Toyota CHR in front of me, and all these kids just burst out of it and came racing at me.

“The biggest one, who looked about 16, stood in front of me and gestured at me to get out of the car, but I took off and swerved around him.”

He drove for a bit before pulling over to call triple-0, but it wasn’t long before the youths in the stolen car tracked him down.

“They drove straight at me like they were going to ram my ute, and I braced myself, but they swerved away at the last minute,” he said.

“They pulled up beside me, and I saw the driver raise his arm and throw something at me.

“I heard a thud up against the pillar of my ute and looked down to see it was a boning knife with a six-inch blade.“

The stolen car then sped off and was sighted at the scene of a burglary on Shaw St, West End, later that same day.

A 65-year-old man was left shaken after youths in a stolen car threw a knife at him at North Ward. Picture: Natasha Emeck

The 65-year-old said he was left feeling “hopeless” that he couldn’t do more to stop them.

“The next person they target might not be so lucky; what if it’s a woman or child?” he said.

“I can’t help but think this boy’s going to kill someone.

“I have no doubt he wanted to hurt me. He had no boundaries.

“These kids are getting more violent and less fearful.

“It makes me think of that poor mum (Emma Lovell) who was fatally stabbed during a home invasion on Boxing Day. How long before we see something like that happen here?”

Police said the white Toyota CHR had been stolen from a home on Thirteenth Ave, Railway Estate, between 3pm on August 10 and 7am on August 11. It was later recovered in West End.

A 12-year-old boy from Kirwan has since been charged in relation to the stolen vehicle.

He’s facing one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and receiving tainted property. He was denied bail and due to appear in Children’s Court at a later date.

Police investigations are continuing. 

Originally published as Townsville crime: 65-year-old victim speaks out on escalating youth crime violence