A Paddington family is reeling after their home was broken into for the fourth time in two years, resulting in the theft of their luxury cars.
James Antliff and Elise Allisson had increased security measures at their residence following each previous incident, but this did not deter a group of teenagers from allegedly breaching their property.
The youths reportedly scaled a concrete wall, forced a door lock, and entered the house. Upon discovering a BMW and a Porsche in the garage, they were seen celebrating before allegedly taking bag and car keys, and driving off with both vehicles.
The incident, which occurred while the couple’s seven-year-old stepson was inside the house, has left the family shaken.
“It’s super frightening,” Allisson said. The teenagers allegedly fled in multiple cars, embarking on a joyride across the south-east. The BMW was later found abandoned in Stafford Heights, while the Porsche was last tracked on the Sunshine Coast and remains missing.
This is the fourth break-in the family has experienced in two years, prompting them to progressively enhance their home’s security.
“We’ve upped the security every time we’ve been broken into,” Antliff stated. “We’ve got security cameras, we got security alarms and all the doors were locked and even the front gate had a chain and padlock around it.”
The incident has reignited the debate surrounding youth crime in Queensland, with the state election looming in October. Opposition Leader David Crisafulli criticised the current government’s handling of the issue, while Premier Steven Miles acknowledged the complexity of the problem.
The investigation into the break-in and car thefts is ongoing, with authorities working to locate the missing Porsche and apprehend the individuals involved.
Paddington Crime Statistics
Between December 2023 to June 2024, there were 127 incidence of Unlawful Entry and Other Theft (excluding Unlawful Entry) in Paddington, according to the Queensland Police Service. Most affected clusters were along Fernberg Road and Latrobe Terrace with more incidents taking place around 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Published Date 11-June-2024