Gone are the days of leaving the key in the ignition or the house unlocked as thieves target isolated properties as easy pickings.
Farmers say they feel violated, vulnerable, and unable to protect their properties amid rising crime rates.
The region near Bundaberg is prime agricultural territory with country hospitality to match, but a dark mood has quietly crept over the community as farmers watch their backs."We are definitely seeing increases in rural crime," said Grant Marcus, chief inspector of Queensland Police's Bundaberg patrol group.After hearing their neighbours had been robbed of fuel and vehicles, the Plaths were already on alert, touring their farm after the Easter long weekend.
"Even just the self-admission that you have to lock your door, you have to be hyper-vigilant, that can have a real significant impact on someone in terms of stress and anxiety.""It's a very difficult context in which to solve crime, and farmers are kind of aware of that and so they often just don't bother reporting because they don't have confidence in the outcome," he said.
Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said he did not want to see property owners confront offenders themselves.
Rural Crime Crime Theft Trespassing Police Sugarcane Farming Jeffrey Plath Judy Plath Regional Queensland Robberies Break-In
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