Car key security, Gold Coast

Gold Coast police are urging residents to lock their car keys in a safe place if they are leaving their house for the day and leaving a motor vehicle in the garage or carport.

Already this year, 84 motor vehicles have been stolen from houses during the commission of a burglary offence on the Gold Coast.

Acting Chief Superintendent Ben Hanbidge said that this was a very concerning trend and that often these vehicles are then be used in other break and enter offences over the next week or so.

“Quite often, a house will be targeted by offenders purely because there is a nice car in the carport, Acting Superintendent Hanbidge said.

“Thieves are becoming more discerning, they like to drive nice cars and many of the cars that appear on our ‘hot list’ are expensive imported European models.

This year, we have had brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW and Porsches stolen.

More often than not, we are finding that home-owners are leaving their car keys cars in a visible location inside the house.  The security functions on most modern cars these days, makes it virtually impossible to start the car without the ignition key,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Hanbidge said it is imperative that home owners hide their car keys if they leave a motor vehicle at home.

“Don’t think that it won’t happen, because it is becoming more and more prevalent,” he said.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.