‘Needs to be a consequence’: Small business owners at wit's end over crime

At the end of his tether with the crime occurring throughout the region, one small business owner has spoken out and called on the State Government to step up.

Small business owner Clint Weber is at his wit’s end with the level of crime occurring in his backyard, especially those incidents impacting other business owners.

The Gowrie One Stop Convenience Centre owner said he’d heard of countless cases of youths breaking into businesses and stealing fuel – he believes it’s time for action.

“When they’re driving looking for fuel, they don’t care where they go, the first servo they come across they’re going to flog fuel from,” he said.

“It doesn’t really matter what crime they commit, there needs to be a consequence.”

Mr Weber said it seemed as though there was a “revolving door” at the courthouse with young people committing crimes and being released.

“The revolving door policy in the courts that seems to exist at the moment, it doesn’t help us as small businesses,” he said.

Owner Clint Weber, his Gowrie Junction store broken into again.

“The truth of it is, that sort of policy, it doesn’t help these children.

“They don’t understand that there’s a consequence for their actions.

“They just continue to make the same poor and bad decisions and end up in more trouble.”

In cases of fuel thefts, Mr Weber would like to see a policy implemented that forces the offenders to fork out for the fuel they stole and burned through during their crime sprees.

State opposition small and family business spokesman Brent Mickelberg described the situation occurring in the region as “disgraceful”.

“Small business owners are just trying to make a living, and they are under attack by young thugs who’ve never worked a day in their life,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“Communities rely on small businesses like the Gowrie One Stop Shop for their day-to-day needs, and the never-ending crime is putting it at risk.

“Every time a business is broken into, it costs the owner in loss of work and customers, repair jobs and insurance, not to mention the effect on their mental health.

“Unlawful entry offences are up 74% on the previous year in Toowoomba.

“Something has to give.”

Mr Weber said it was not just about the immediate impacts of the crimes for small businesses.

Often, the owners had to fork out inordinate amounts of money to cover insurance costs for the damage.

“When you come down and someone has broken the front doors and busted in and wrecked stuff for no reason, the staff feel bad, the customers feel bad, and you feel bad,” he said.

“Small businesses continue to put their hands in their pockets to cover the cost of what these kids are doing,” Mr Weber said.