Car theft, break-ins, assaults on the rise across Wide Bay-Burnett region

Police data showing crime has doubled in some parts of the region backs up the anger and frustration felt by Wide Bay-Burnett business owners.

Police data showing crime has doubled in some parts of the region backs up the anger and frustration felt by Wide Bay-Burnett business owners.

Police have recorded an alarming increase in car thefts, assaults and break-ins amid frustration expressed by Wide Bay and Burnett business owners who have lost income and been injured in a number of alleged incidents.

Owners of Hervey Bay’s Cafe Balaena said local restaurant and shop owners were “far too experienced with” the “senseless act of vandalism” that saw the windows of their business allegedly smashed by two teenagers early in the morning of February 7.

A 17-year-old was charged over the cafe break-in and a 15-year-old will be dealt with under a restorative justice process.

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A Torquay restauranter, Jaiden Christie, said in November 2023 that Fraser Coast residents were “sick of break-ins” after his business was broken into multiple times through the previous 12 months.

Windows of Hervey Bay's Cafe Balaena were smashed in February.

“We have had enough, and we need something done about it,” Mr Christie said.

“People should be able to walk down our beautiful Esplanade and not have to fear their safety.”

More recently, a Bundaberg truck rental business owner, Warren West, said escalating crime was becoming “ridiculous” after thieves did $600,000 worth of damage to his business by stealing a Toyota Prado and torching four other vehicles in a brazen robbery in which Mr West sustained a knife injury to his hand.

Warren West, owner of Bundaberg's Network Car and Truck Rentals, sustained a hand injury when thieves attacked him with a knife when he busted them stealing trucks from his business.

“There has been a lot of break-ins around here recently,” said Mr West on February 6.

“We’ve had a couple in the past but nothing like this, this is just ridiculous.”

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said on Tuesday no charges have yet been laid in relation to this incident.

The latest police crime data backs up the community sentiment, showing January had an alarming increase in break-ins, car theft and assaults across the region.

Car thefts in Bundaberg more than doubled in comparison with January 2023 with 40 cars stolen last month, by far the highest number on record for the region.

Break-ins also increased significantly for Bundaberg and the Burnett region, with Bundaberg break-ins increasing by 50 per cent to 191 in January 2024.

While the total break-ins were relatively low, North Burnett (13) and South Burnett (76) had the greatest proportional increase across the entire region at 63 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.

Assaults increased almost universally throughout the Wide Bay-Burnett region, with only North Burnett showing a decline compared with January 2023.

The skyrocketing crime data led LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett to dub January the “month of mayhem”, and he called on the Queensland government to make a range of changes to legislation and police resourcing.

“Until the Youth Justice Act is rewritten to embed consequences for action, until detention as a last resort is removed and until police have the resources they need, Bundaberg will be victim to the criminals terrorising this city,” Mr Bennett said.

Mr Bennett tabled a question on notice to the police minister on Tuesday asking for details around the implementation of CCTV cameras in Queensland police stations.

LNP Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett and Bundaberg candidate Bree Watson spoke about the region's escalating crime at a press conference on February 9.

“We know there are regional police stations, including some in the Burnett Electorate, who don’t even have CCTV,” he said.

“Our officers go above and beyond to protect our community, but the State Labor Government is failing to protect or support them in return.”

In recent comments to the Courier Mail, ALP Bundaberg MP Tom Smith committed to working closely with Bundaberg police in ensuring community safety is prioritised.

“In Bundaberg, more police resources have been provided with outcomes being achieved,” Mr Smith said.

“If our police need more resources, they will get it.”

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Comments from Wide Bay-Burnett district police via Queensland Police media were not received by time of publication.

Originally published as Car theft, break-ins, assaults on the rise across Wide Bay-Burnett region