Chronicle readers in favour of locking their door while driving to avoid falling victim to carjacking

Chronicle readers overwhelmingly back this reccomendation that can prevent carjackings and are supportive for more drivers to take it up.

Footage filmed by POLAIR in Queensland of an alleged carjacking.

Judging by the comments on our website, for a long time now Toowoomba Chronicle readers have been locking their car doors while driving to avoid falling victim to a carjacking.

The feedback was received after the Chronicle published an article saying locking up while driving was one of many security precautions police recommend drivers take.

“I have locked car doors for years, day and night,” Joy Campbell said.

“I always lock up, I had some woman attempt to get in my car outside Cash Converters, the door was locked then she said roll the window down and asked for a lift up the road,” David Hart said.

“Umm no, catch ya later.”

“As soon as I get in the car I lock my doors,” Staicee Lehmann said.

“I’ve been attempted to be carjacked three times in Toowoomba in the past 10 years, so now I’m overly paranoid about doing it.”

“It’s a grim reality that the brain dead druggies don’t care who or what age you are, they take what they want when they want it and when we fight back we are the criminals,” David Miller said.

“Time to wake up Australia.”

Not everyone was convinced as some thought locking your doors while driving could delay emergency services during a crash rescue.

“I was advised not to by an old time paramedics because, in case of an accident, it slows getting a patient removed from the vehicle,” Shirley Makin said.

It could be the difference between life and death.

“They can smash windows to gain access and what if the doors have been crushed in they have to use the jaws of life” Michelle Hamling replied.

“I’d rather be safe driving with locked doors than take the risk of being carjacked.”

Many readers said car theft would be an issue in the election.

“None of this will ever change until the Qld police’s ridiculous no pursuit policy is changed so police can actually stop these crimes from occurring by being able to pursue criminals in vehicles again, “Troy said.

“Ever since the new policy has been in place police have been hamstrung and not supported in this context.

“Let’s hope a new government brings some common sense to allow police to pursue and stop these crooks from ruining our state and way of life.”

The advice comes as RACQ reported a spike in insurance claims for vehicle theft that topped $39 million in the previous financial year.

RACQ Chief Executive Insurance Trent Sayers said it was alarming to see a substantial year-on-year increase in claims.

“The best way to protect yourself is to always treat your keys like cash, never leave them lying around on a table or in plain sight at the beach,” he said.

“We continue to see car thefts occurring simply because people leave their keys in the car, so never leave your keys unattended in your vehicle or store spare keys inside.”

The biggest increases in car theft occurred in coast areas with a 160 per cent spike at the Sunshine Coast, year-on-year.

RACQ car claims were up 71 per cent in the Wide Bay, 62 per cent in Gold Coast, 41 per cent in Moreton Bay South and 14 per cent in Central Queensland.

The rest of Queensland experienced a drop in claims.

RACQ has about 27 per cent market share in the car insurance sector.