A Townsville victim of a balcony break-in was shocked after thieves stole both her and her husband’s cars. Queensland Police are currently investigating the incident, which highlights an alarming trend of offenders targeting apartment buildings in the CBD.
Jools Munro, a former police officer and real estate agent, and her husband discovered their car keys missing when they woke up on Wednesday morning. Despite their front door being locked, they realized the intruders accessed their apartment by climbing over the balcony.
“Locking doors and keeping balconies closed on the fourth floor is now a thing in Townsville,” Ms. Munro remarked, expressing her distress at the crime.
Local LNP MPs are advocating for mandatory jail sentences for such offenses, as property crime is a pressing issue in North Queensland. Despite government promises to reduce crime, it has been acknowledged that further measures need to be taken.
Interestingly, the thieves ignored cash and electronic devices at the scene, stealing only car and house keys. Thankfully, the couple utilized phone tracking apps and recovered both vehicles in outer-city suburbs, albeit in a battered condition.
Sergeant Julie Cooke of the Townsville Crime Prevention Unit noted an increase in cases like this, with offenders climbing balconies to access homes and targeting vehicles’ keys. She urged residents to secure their balconies and reported that police are seeking information or CCTV footage related to these incidents.
