Queensland beachgoers are being urged to secure their keys and valuables this summer after a number of car thefts across the state’s beaches.
Figures released by the RACQ on Tuesday show the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Beach was the state’s theft hotspot, with as many as 25 reported thefts in the past three years.
In numerous cases, opportunistic thieves had pocketed keys from unprotected belongings on the beach, then scoured the carpark while pressing the unlock button before making away with a vehicle.
Cars had also been stolen after keys were left under the tyre of the vehicle.
Popular Sunshine Coast family beach Mooloolaba was the state’s second biggest hotspot with 21 thefts since the start of 2014, while Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast had each had 16 incidents.
The Gold Coast’s Main Beach and Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, had also had 15 incidents over the time period, while laptops and items of jewellery had also been taken from beaches.
