Locals in Helensvale, Gold Coast perform citizen’s arrest on teens who crashed in their street

A group of locals fed up with youth crime took matters into their own hands when a ute crashed into a parked car on their street.

A group of locals fed up with youth crime took matters into their own hands when a ute crashed into a parked car on their street.

After hearing a loud crash, neighbours in the suburb of Helensvale on the Gold Coast in Queensland rushed out to perform a citizen’s arrest on the culprits.

According to 7 News, a former police officer was among the locals who chased down the driver and his passengers as they tried to flee on foot.

It is alleged a 17-year-old driver and three passengers, aged between 15 and 16, jumped out of the ute and ran as they were approached by the locals.

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A group of teens caused a commotion on a quiet suburban street. Picture: 7 News

One resident told 7 News he intercepted one of them before another neighbour came over and helped him hold the teenager down.

He said the three other teens soon returned.

“By that time quite a lot of neighbours had come out. We’re fortunate to have great response from our neighbourhood,” he said.

Soon enough, neighbours came to the rescue to ensure they didn’t get away. Picture: Supplied

“So we detained all four of them and by that time the police had been called”.

The resident said it was lucky no-one was killed.

“We’re very fortunate, (because) in this area there’s a lot of children always out, that at that time they didn’t kill somebody.“ They absolutely could have killed somebody,” he said.

The teenagers were allegedly inside a ute that crashed into a parked car. Picture: Supplied

“Some of the neighbours had heard them from about two or three streets away”.

One of the locals behind the citizens arrest was a police officer. He told 7 News he could quickly assess whether it was safe to apprehend the teenager, but not everyone can, adding there was always a risk they may have a weapon.

“(Youth crime is) getting worse and this is something we’re all alert to in this area,” he said.

One neighbour said they were fed up with youth crime on their street. Picture: Supplied

A spokesperson for Queensland police said a 17-year-old male driver from Helensvale has been given a notice to appear (at court) and has his licence has been suspended after a traffic crash at Helensvale.

“Around 2.30pm a Ford Ranger was travelling south along Gippsland Drive when it crashed into a camper parked on the side of the road which has then impacted into a MG vehicle,” they said.

‘The driver of the Ford Ranger has pulled over to the side of the road and the four occupants, 17-year-old driver, two 16-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy, exited the vehicle. A neighbour has detained the group until police arrived.

The spokesperson said the driver holds a learner’s licence but was not supervised.

“Police breath tested the driver and it is alleged he returned a breath test of 0.087 back at the station,” they said.

“He has been given a notice to appear for drink driving and his licence has been suspended. The vehicle was not stolen”.