Not as first appears

The RACQ has named Coolum Beach and Cooroy among the top-ten worst suburbs for home thefts on the Sunshine Coast, but local police have labelled the statistics inaccurate.
The data is based on the number of home theft claims made per 100 policies in a postcode and placed Maroochydore, Cotton Tree and Kuluin at the top of the list.
Hervey Bay and surrounding suburbs in postcode 4655 came in second, followed by Coolum Beach and other suburbs in postcode 4573 at third place.
Noosa Shire’s postcode 4563, which includes Cooroy, Black Mountain, and Lake MacDonald, came in at eighth on the list.
RACQ Executive Manager Insurance Communications Mike Sopinski said the 2014 Home Security Index has revealed local crime rates impact the decision of property buyers.
“Our research shows the majority of those surveyed (81 per cent) said crime rates in an area affect their buying choice,” he said.
“More than half said they would check crime rates in the local area, and nearly three quarters said previous crimes at a property would impact whether they purchase.”
Mr Sopinski said their research shows most break-ins are opportunistic and many householders are making it easy for thieves to enter their properties through open windows and doors.
Noosa Heads’ officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReigh said it was no surprise Noosa Heads and surrounds weren’t on the list, but statistics based on postcodes aren’t always accurate.
“Our computer system allows us to see crime statistics street by street, providing far more accurate data,” he said.
“Sometimes an entire postcode can be labelled a crime hot spot when it’s not really the case.”
A search of the QLD Police online crime statistics shows Caloundra postcode 4551 as having a high occurrence of unlawful entries for 2013 with a total of 244 reported, while Maroochydore’s 4558 postcode recorded 130 incidents and Coolum, or postcode 4573, has a total of 121 unlawful entries for 2013.
Cooroy and surrounds, originally ranked at number eight on the top ten list, came in at a mere 25 unlawful entries for 2013, while Kawana postcode 4557, which came in at number nine on the RACQ list, recorded 81 unlawful entries.