‘A vicious cycle and I don’t know what the remedy is’: elderly woman shares terrifying home break-in

An elderly Toowoomba couple has shared the terrifying moment three young criminals brandishing weapons tried to break into their home, and why for the first time in 50 years they feel concerned about their safety.

Marie Taylor has lived in the same South Toowoomba house for 50 years, and until recently she had never felt unsafe.

Ms Taylor, 76, had seen break-ins and crime on the news but she never expected it to end up on her doorstep until three people brandishing weapons tried to break into her home on Friday.

The group, who appear to be young men, had their faces covered while holding knives and a shovel and can be seen through Ms Taylor’s security cameras attempting to break into her home at about 9pm.

“I was scared and I was angry,” she said.

“They tried to get in the door, and it wouldn’t budge.

“It’s scary when it happens to you, but you try not to think too much about it and put it behind you and just hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Ms Taylor had been up watching a football game on TV and her husband was already asleep when she heard loud knocking at the door.

“I told them to leave and they started trying to get in the door by kicking it and pulling at it,” she said.

“I told them I would call the police and I woke up my husband.”

She said it took about 10 to 15 minutes before the group moved on and she made an official statement to police the next morning.

Ms Taylor said today felt like a completely different era than the one she grew up in.

“I was brought up in an era and when my kids were young, you didn’t lock your doors. It’s not like that anymore,” she said.

“You just have to listen to the news, watch the news and you’ll be concerned.

“That’s why we’ve got cameras all around our house.”

Ms Taylor said more needs to be done to make Toowoomba a safer place.

“I haven’t got the solution and these politicians, I don’t think they’ve got the solutions and judges they are too lenient,” she said.

“They go to court and next thing they’re out on bail and they’re doing it again.

“It’s a vicious cycle and I don’t know what the remedy is.”

Ms Taylor called for more to be done by Toowoomba Regional Council and she wants to see more of an investment in youth programs that set kids up on the right path from a young age.

“Toowoomba has not got an abundance of activities for children either,” she said.

“The council should be thinking about building activities for children.”

Police are looking into another attempted break-in at a Glenvale address at around 10.45pm the same night.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said initial reports found a group was banging on the front door to see if anyone was home.

Officers are still investigating to see if the two incidents are connected.

Investigations are still ongoing for both break-ins.