City’s top cop lays out plan to blunt spike in car theft

Toowoomba’s most senior police officer has laid out a plan to tackle a spike in car theft. But he's also asking residents to play an important role in curbing the crime.

Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon called on Darling Downs residents to lock up or risk having thieves take their car.

Police will come down hard on recidivist offenders after more than 90 vehicles were stolen from the Darling Downs District in the past month.

This crackdown will include extra bail and curfew checks on known offenders as well as more police patrols in high risk areas.

QPS Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region Mike Condon said the offenders were well known to police and were targeting high end cars.

In the past month, police have arrested and charged 38 offenders linked to the spike in car thefts – 16 of whom are juveniles.

“We have identified several adult recidivist offenders who have recently been released from prison – one of which was released on July 2,” Mr Condon said.

Police will work with officers from the Department of Corrections to pick up known offenders as soon as they step out of line.

Mr Condon called on the public to do its part.

“About 24 of the 90 offences related to the unlawful entry of dwellings where the keys were stolen,” he said.

“We are saying to the public to be more safety conscious about the keys to your vehicles – which is probably the second most valuable item of property that you own.”

Of the 90 vehicles stolen in the Darling Downs, 53 came from Toowoomba, 15 from the Darling Downs country area and 15 from the Warwick area.

Last week thieve stole a Porsche Macan and a Maserati Quattroporte from separate Mt Lofty homes.

The Polair chopper was called into to track the Porsche while the Maserati was recovered after it was crashed into a tree in Rangeville.

That figure of 90 cars stolen in the past 30 days is about a 50 per cent increase from the same period in 2020 – when 60 cars were stolen.

Mr Condon said it appeared the thieves were copying their colleagues in Brisbane by trying to one-up each other as to who could steal the most expensive vehicle.

This means the residents of Toowoomba’s more well-off suburbs are prime targets.

“These offenders are not stupid,” Mr Condon said.

“They see a nice car and they follow it home.”

“Mercedes, Audis, BMWs – they shouldn’t be able to steal these cars, but if they knock off the key inside a home then it is a free-for-all.”