Six Cairns victims share experience of ‘unstoppable’ youth crime rampage

Six victims have shared their stories as new car theft figures show the city’s spiralling crime epidemic is on track to surpass an all-time record.

CAIRNS is in the grip of an unprecedented car theft epidemic shaping up to surpass an all-time record if a January stolen car trajectory continues for the remainder of 2022.

Based on January figures the city could be on track for an annual car theft tally of more than 1400 stolen vehicles, easily surpassing a previous record of 782 cars set in 2021.

This month, on average, 3.9 cars were stolen everyday in Cairns between Gordonvale and the Northern Beaches. So far this month 117 vehicles have been stolen.

Alleged teen car thieves have posted video to social media of burnouts in a ute stolen from Redlynch earlier this month.

Manunda resident Kirsten Baines, after having a Toyota HiLux Workmate stolen last week, now feels like a prisoner in her own home and is planning to leave the area.

“Our house was locked but they managed to crowbar the back sliding glass door open. We now have to deadlock our doors and turn on alarms,” she said.

“We feel like our house is a jail cell now. Doesn’t feel like home anymore.”

Paula Campion has totally reorganised her life after being burgled in her sleep and her car stolen.

She was fortunate that police recovered her Ford Territory two streets away after thieves were thwarted trying to break in another property.

“They seem to be somewhat unstoppable,” she said.

“And they’re really proud of what they do as well and that’s kind of sad.”

Cairns business owner Perri Conti has become an advocate against car crime after having two vehicles stolen earlier this month.

She has invested hundreds of hours logging stolen cars, listening to the online police scanner and taking to police.

Paula Campion had her Ford Territory SUV stolen from her home two weeks ago while she was sleeping. The vehicle was recovered by police hours later after thieves drove the car to a neighbouring suburb and attempted another break-in. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Having lived in Cairns many years she has never witnessed a situation as serious as it is now.

“I telling you, someone is going to get killed, people have had gut full,” she said.

“If we have 113 cars in January, what’s February going to be like?”

Five youths were charged over this stolen Holden after brazen social media posts.

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman said Operation Uniform Dryandra had arrested 172 alleged offenders on 893 charges. A total of 101 were juveniles.

He said a spike in January car thefts was, in part, due to a group of repeat offenders being released from Townsville’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

“These top 10 per cent are described as recidivist criminals,” he said earlier this month.

“So that is where our target lies. We have these kids identified through our enhanced intelligence products and the police are actively seeking those that are wanted for questioning.”

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns’ top cop said at the weekend a targeted operation was getting results and 40 per cent of offences had been cleared.

“We are confident ongoing investigations will see more people charged,” he said.

“We thank the public for the outstanding assistance provided to police in identifying suspects leading to the arrests of many offenders, a partnership we are sure will continue.”

Earlier this month Acting Chief Supt Hodgman said 31 alleged offenders currently on bail were checked by officers each night.

“There’s some compliant on bail, and then some aren’t compliant when we go around to visit them,” he said.

In 2020 new laws were enacted to ensure that recidivist offenders were denied bail and in 2021 Police Minister Mark Ryan announced select hardcore youth offenders would be fitted with GPS devices as a condition of bail. But in the eight months since the government passed new youth crime laws only three electronic monitoring devices have been fitted as a condition of bail.

Acting Chief Supt Hodgman said was often difficult for officers to determine if juvenile offenders were complying with their bail conditions but those chalking up multiple breaches would be locked up.

“Parents and guardians have a huge responsibility to make sure that they know where their kids are,” he said.

“I implore those parents to make sure that (their children) are engaged in school, earning or learning.”

Perri Conti's Hyundai Accent was returned last week covered in graffiti with front end damage and after being stolen earlier this month.

Ms Conti believed re-education and an overhaul of the foster care system to allow carers to take an active role parenting was needed.

“Sticking them in detention is not teaching them anything, all they learn there is how to do more crime,” she said.

On Saturday morning Freshwater resident Kim Nelson woke to discover her son’s car parked in the driveway the night before was gone.

“A few years ago when all the crime was all happening around Edge Hill I felt quiet safe, but it’s not safe (in Freshwater) now,” she said.

Cairns teens pose up on Instagram in front of an allegedly stolen car.

Unlike many car theft victims Ms Nelson was concerned for the welfare of teen criminals behind the wheel.

“These people are making terrible mistakes that can affect their futures, I wish there as better guidance,” she said.

“It does not end well for anybody, these types of crimes.”

Sera Sinclair’s partner’s white Toyota HiLux was stolen from an Atherton address and last seen in Edmonton. She said the current situation was “sickening.”

Bentley Park resident Brett Davenport looks over a burnt-out car, the fire brigade had to attend to the blaze. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE

Matthew John’s parents got their Holden ute stolen work vehicle stolen from Redlynch earlier this month.

He said it was only a matter of time before an unlicensed and inexperienced juvenile driver caused a road tragedy.

“It’s only time until someone is killed,” he said.

“Either a kid doing the break-in or some innocent person when they lose control of a car that they have just stolen.

“Bring back the old chain gangs so they can clean the streets (as) payback for all the suffering and loss of income and mental health problems the victims suffer.”

LNP police spokesman Dale Last said a promised crackdown on youth crime had not worked.

“It is clear to every Queenslander that this state government is losing control of youth crime and they are rightly fed up with it and they want action,” he said.

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Originally published as Six Cairns victims share experience of ‘unstoppable’ youth crime rampage