Toowoomba crime suburb map: Queensland Police data reveals where the most crime-ridden areas are

Serious crime has become a major concern for Toowoomba residents, but what suburbs and areas have been the hardest hit? Find out how your suburb fared.

Data from the Queensland Police has revealed Toowoomba CBD, Newtown and Harristown as some of the most crime-affected parts of the Garden City.

Analysis by The Chronicle of police statistics from the past 12 months from June 2021 has revealed that there were 3189 reported offences in Toowoomba City, 1619 in Newtown and 973 in Harristown.

The majority of offences reported in Toowoomba City were Good Order Offences such as public nuisance, public urination and consuming liquor in a public place, as well as liquor, drug and theft (excluding unlawful entry offences).

The city also recorded the highest number of assault (162) and fraud (100) offences.

In the past 12 months Newtown recorded the most unlawful entry (216), unlawful use of a motor vehicle (114) and traffic offences (151) as well as the second highest number of drug (217) and assault (104) offences.

According to the latest crime report from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, total reported offences declined by 11.7 per cent from 2019-20 to 2020-21, but increased by 15 per cent since 2011-12.

A number of recent offences in Newtown have highlighted the crime issue facing the suburb.

On June 8 members of the public came to the rescue of a 65-year-old woman who had been pushed over and robbed of her purse after leaving an ATM.

Plumber and aspiring hip-hop artist Dan Hodder, with the help of another young man, managed to collar the 16-year-old, and return her purse.

“I gave him a pretty bad body slam then he started crying and carrying on,” Mr Hodder said.

“He was only a kid, so I didn’t want to give him a touch up.”

Dan Hodder thwarted a mugging at Clifford Gardens on June 8, 2022.

A few days earlier two girls, aged 16 and 14, confronted a 76-year-old woman in the carpark of the same Newtown shopping centre.

The pair demanded the woman hand over her vehicle and when she refused the girls pulled her from the driver’s seat and punched her in the head multiple times.

The girls stole the 2013 Holden Cruze and fled south along Anzac Ave as onlookers rushed to the woman’s aid.

She suffered bruising to her head along with cuts to her hands and arms and was transported to Toowoomba Hospital for treatment.

In early June Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll along with Police Minister Mark Ryan announced 29 frontline police officer positions and a new Mobile Police Beat for the Darling Downs District, with the positions to be allocated to key frontline roles, as well as dedicated investigative positions focusing on youth crime.

Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service Katarina Carroll. Picture: John Gass.

Targeted operations have resulted in 350 offenders charged since July 1, 2021, and Commissioner Carroll said police were applying a range of strategies to tackle youth crime.

“The district established a 27-officer squad, comprising members of the Tactical Crime Squad and Toowoomba Property Crime Unit, dedicated to ensuring a timely and effective response,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“In nearly 12 months, members of the squad visited 1739 addresses, conducted 1448 bail checks and 1422 street checks, and charged 295 offenders with a total of 693 charges.

“Importantly, officers have also been working closely with our partner agencies to ensure a whole-of-government approach to targeting serious repeat offenders, as well as collaborating with community groups to ensure at-risk youth do not progress down the path of crime.”