Queensland car theft offences hit highest on record for December 2022

Almost 70 cars were stolen across Queensland every day in the worst month on record for vehicle thefts. WHERE CAR THEFTS SPIKED

Almost 70 cars were stolen across the state every day in the worst month on record for vehicle thefts, as Queensland grapples with a youth crime crisis.

According to Queensland Police data, 2133 unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences were recorded in December - higher than the previous record of 1834 in March 2001.

It’s the largest number of car theft offences in a single month ever recorded in Queensland.

Bond University criminologist Professor Terry Goldsworthy said he was not surprised by the concerning numbers.

“It’s extremely prevalent in Queensland and has been for some years, it is problematic,” Professor Goldsworthy said.

“It comes back to, realistically, the focus needs to be on the serious repeat offenders.”

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy wasn’t surprised by the concerning numbers, and said more needs to be done regarding repeat offenders. Picture: Nigel Hallett

According to the Children’s Court Serious Repeat Offender Index, 17 per cent of young offenders, or 568 children, were responsible for nearly half the crimes committed in 2021-22.

Professor Goldsworthy said the small percentage committed more than 50 per cent of stolen vehicle offences.

“They’re the recidivist offenders out there stealing the vehicles, they’re the people we need the police to crack down on and the youth crime task force to crack down on.

“It’s more about stopping the short-term offending cycle.”

Last year, more than 19,000 unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences were recorded in the state.

A Queensland Police spokesman said they were working hard to combat the increase, and had arrested more than 2100 offenders on 4500 charges as part of an operation launched in mid-December.

“The co-ordinated operation is focusing on preventing and disrupting crime with thousands of patrols of residential and business areas, bail compliance checks and a range of other engagement activities,” the spokesman said.

The car theft spike comes as Queensland grapples with a youth crime crisis.

RACQ spokeswoman Kate Leonard-Jones said insurance claims for car theft were also up 21 per cent in Queensland from 2021.

“It’s really concerning that car theft is a growing problem and causes issues for thousands of motorists,” Ms Leonard-Jones said.

“Our data shows Central Queensland, Toowoomba and Cairns have experienced the largest jump in car theft claims from 2021 to 2022.”

RACQ data shows Townsville recorded a 36.9 per cent increase, Brisbane Inner City recorded 39.8 per cent increase and outback Queensland recorded a 50 per cent increase.

The only regions in Queensland which saw a decrease in claims were Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North and Brisbane East.

Opposition Minister for Police Dale Last said the state government’s “soft on crime” strategy was to blame for the record-breaking numbers.

“Queensland is in the midst of a crime epidemic and after watering down the laws the Palaszczuk Government is now in denial about how serious it is,” Mr Last said.

“All Queenslanders deserve to feel safe in their own homes,” he said.

“It’s the same kids committing the same crimes in the same areas and Queenslanders, including our hardworking police officers, are fed up with Labor’s revolving door of young criminals.”

The government recently announced another raft of changes to the Youth Justice Act in the wake of the death of Emma Lovell who was killed during a home invasion in North Lakes.

These changes included speeding up the sentencing process for juveniles to put them behind bars sooner, and increasing the maximum sentence for car thieves.

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said these changes would make the laws even tougher.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said, however, the State Government’s “watered-down laws had raised a generation of young criminals running rife across Queensland”.

“Queenslanders everywhere are paying a high price for the State Government’s soft laws because we’re now seeing the cost of car insurance jump in line with the number of cars stolen across our communities,” he said.

“This is a failure of leadership and legislation and Queenslanders want change.”

Originally published as Queensland car theft offences hit highest on record for December 2022