Keeping Your Property Safe

Gympie Police are reminding residents in Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Imbil, Goomeri, Widgee and Kilkivan to review their home and business security measures, to lock and secure vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.

Recently in the above-mentioned areas, property related offences have been reported to police. Details can be found at myPolice Gympie.

On 6 February, two reported “stealing from motor vehicle” offences occurred at a premise on Tin Can Bay Road, Tin Can Bay. The two reports relate to the theft of number plates from vehicles. One of the vehicles bearing Queensland registration TRI770 had both number plates stolen and the other vehicle bearing Queensland registration 268YUH had the rear plate stolen.

Investigations are continuing.

If you have any information that can assist police with these or other incidents, please contact Policelink.

Remember to secure your vehicles, homes, and businesses to help deter opportunistic criminals from stealing your property.

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

Home and business security:

Break and enter, or burglary, is one of the most common crimes and can occur at any time of the day or night.

By regularly assessing your home and business security, introducing targeted security measures and changes to our everyday behaviours you can help keep your property safe.

Good home and business security can be achieved by following these key principles:

• Make it easy for an offender to be seen
• Make it difficult for an offender to gain entry
• Make it difficult for an offender to exit with your property
• Make it difficult for an offender to gain benefit from your property

More information, along with guides to conducting a home/business security assessment can be found at www.police.qld.gov.au/safety-and-preventing-crime

Vehicle security:

Most car thefts, and theft from cars, are opportunistic in nature however, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of having your car stolen or broken into.

• Park in well-lit and highly visible areas whenever possible, utilising off street and secured parking.
• 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 personal or vehicle details including name, phone number or registration details.
• Consider installing a car alarm or steering wheel lock to help protect your vehicle.
• Use lockable devices to help keep your vehicle secure including lockable fuel caps, wheel nuts, spare tyre covers and roof racks.
• Consider installing a remote engine immobiliser which meets Australian Standards.
• Consider installing a GPS tracker to your vehicle.

Queensland Police Service encourages the use of anti-theft screws on number plates, to deter thieves. By using anti-theft screws, you can help reduce your risk of number plate theft.