February 18, 2022
Police are urging South Burnett residents to lock their vehicles after a recent spate of cars being broken into or stolen.
One of the latest victims was one of their own … Detective Sergeant Scott Prendergast was at home with his wife last week when he heard noises outside about 10:00pm.
Thieves had broken into the family’s car and stolen items from the glovebox.
Speaking at a media conference in Toowoomba on Friday morning, Det Sgt Prendergast said he went outside and watched as the culprits drove off.
He said the incident proved how important security cameras were as his CCTV footage allowed police to identify the alleged thieves.
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Senior Constable Danielle Gordon, from Murgon Police, said most car thefts were opportunistic but there were a number of things that people could do to reduce the risk of having their car stolen or broken into:
- Always lock your vehicle, including the boot and sunroof, and remember to fully close all windows
- Always keep your keys out of sight and never leave vehicle keys lying around on tables, benches, bedside tables or key hooks
- Remove keys from the ignition and lock your vehicle if parked or unattended, even if it’s only for a minute
- Never hide spare keys on or in the vehicle – thieves know where to look
- Remove all valuables and personal items when leaving your car unattended, or ensure they are out of sight
- Always take your vehicle keys with you whenever you are going out, even if you are leaving your vehicle at home
- When parking in a garage, ensure both the garage and vehicle are locked and the garage door remotes are secured
- Avoid marking your keys with your personal or vehicle details such as name, phone number or vehicle registration.
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[UPDATED with correction. Det Sgt Prendergast’s car was broken into, not stolen]
