Toowoomba cemetery: Three teens charged over $500,000 cemetery damage

The LNP has vowed to beef-up youth crime laws after teens that desecrated headstones at a historic Queensland cemetery were let off with a warning.

The LNP has pledged to strengthen Queensland’s youth justice laws, after it was revealed the three young offenders who caused $500,000 worth of damage at one of the state’s oldest cemeteries would get off with a warning.

Police arrested three young boys overnight in relation to the desecration of more than 100 headstones at the Toowoomba’s Drayton Cemetery across Friday night and Saturday morning.

The 15-year-old Harristown boy, a 15-year-old Newtown boy and a 17-year-old Highfields boy were charged with wilful damage and dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

They are not required to face court and were not known to police prior to the vandalism.

Toowoomba Child Protection Investigation Unit officer-in-charge Renee Garske said she thanked for the community for its help in identifying the offenders.

Vandals have damaged or destroyed more than 300 graves at Toowoomba's Drayton Cemetery, Sunday, August 11, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It was the community’s assistance that helped us solve that offence,” she said.

“It is certainly something that is distressing to the community, and just really disheartening for the families impacted.”

It comes as the Toowoomba Regional Council continues to count the clean-up cost of the night of mayhem, which is expected to be as high as $500,000.

The cemetery lies within the Queensland electorate of Toowoomba South, with sitting MP and LNP treasury spokesman David Janetzki describing the vandalism was a new low for Queensland.

“A decade ago Labor watered-down our youth crime laws, creating a generation of young criminals who know they don’t face consequences for their crimes,” he said.

“There is now a generation of offenders who fear no consequences and we’ve seen that on full display again at the weekend.

“Wanton grave desecration, including war graves, is a sad new low in our crime crisis.

“If elected in October, we will restore consequences for action under the Youth Justice Act and that is what people are crying out for.”

Vandals have damaged or destroyed more than 300 graves at Toowoomba's Drayton Cemetery, Sunday, August 11, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Police Minister Mark Ryan described the behaviour as “appalling”, while noting most young people who came into contact with police usually didn’t reoffend.

“This was appalling behaviour. It was disrespectful and insulting to the families who have been impacted,” he said.

“It’s important to note that when deciding the course of action to take when it comes to young people, police take into account a range of factors, including the opportunity to steer young people away from a cycle of offending.

“The vast majority of young people who have interactions with police do so only once.

“The majority of young people who are issued a caution do not go on to reoffend.”

Mayor slams ‘disgusting’ act at cemetery

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald, who slammed the “disgusting” acts on Sunday, said he hoped the teenagers had learned their lesson.

“It is my hope that the punishment the offenders have received is enough to make them understand the gravity of the destruction they have caused,” he said.

“I acknowledge members of our community who have assisted the police to quickly identify the young people involved.

“Our attention remains focused on the families who will discover this horrible disregard for their memorials.

“Likewise, it is important to remember our council cemetery staff who take great pride in their work and are also quite distressed by the abhorrent acts of destruction that took place.”

Mr McDonald said the TRC cemetery team was currently making all structures at the site safe as well as compiling a list of damaged memorials and artefacts.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald is disgusted after vandals damage or destroy more than 300 graves at Toowoomba's Drayton Cemetery, Sunday, August 11, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“(We are) working with our software provider to determine the best way of tracking and recording information relevant to the damage and working with local stone masons on the best approach to managing on site issues,” he said.

“Council will also, in time, attempt to contact rights holders and families of sites where damage has occurred.

“A catalogue of damaged sites will also be compiled on council’s website.

“At this time, rather than calling council to ask about a loved one’s gravesite, it is preferable that customers attend the cemetery in person to check on sites.

“It is asked though that they do not touch anything due to safety issues and also if the police require further follow up.”

The council has been contacted as to whether the damage is covered by insurance, and if not whether it would be the organisation or the families of plot-owners that would foot the bill.

For more information, head to the council’s website.

Originally published as Toowoomba cemetery: Three teens charged over $500,000 cemetery damage