Sunshine Coast Police launched their ‘Secure it or Gift it’ operation at the Coolum Beach Surf Club on Friday 1 December.
The operation will see police conducting mobile and foot patrols right across the Sunshine Coast in targeted hotspots throughout December aimed at identifying insecure vehicles and reminding owners of the importance of doing their bit to reduce this type of theft.
Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins said unlocked cars and homes are easy targets for criminals and actually attract these criminals to your streets.
“Don’t make it easy to become a victim and don’t invite criminals to your neighbourhood,” he said.
“We have seen an increase in these types of offences across the Coast over the last year and we are asking people to avoid becoming victims by simply locking their homes and vehicles, keeping property out of sight and keeping their keys secure
“We are seeing that almost all recent occurrences of houses being broken into here in Coolum Beach and Peregian Springs have occurred through unlocked rear and side doors or through open or unlocked garages. Criminals are then taking car keys and making off in the owner’s vehicle.”
Superintendent Hawkins warned that often these stolen vehicles are used by criminals in committing other offences and put the community at risk.
“Recently in Peregian Springs we saw a vehicle stolen after the offenders gained access to the house via an unlocked rear door,” he said.
“CCTV from another nearby house then showed them attempting entry into other vehicles in the street and moving on when finding them locked.”
Police will be checking the security of vehicles in hotspots including local shopping centres, popular tourist locations, holiday apartments and residential streets throughout the Operation.
Police will be contacting owners or leaving notes on vehicles that are found insecure.
Members of the public may even find a reward for doing the right thing with local businesses providing some coffee vouchers for police to use to thank people found to be playing their part and locking their vehicles with valuables out of sight.
“We want residents and visitors to enjoy this holiday period on the Sunshine Coast and remind everyone to avoid becoming a victim of crime by taking these simple steps to protect your property. Secure it, don’t Gift it,” Superintendent Hawkins said.
