Protecting Your Home, Family and Vehicle

What Can I Do To Protect Me and My Family?

We know our community and surrounding regions have been dealing with an increase in car theft, break-ins and property crime.

The reality is—most of these crimes are opportunistic.

That means small changes at home can make a big difference.

We have created this page to bring together some simple, practical steps you can take to better protect yourself, your family, and your property. (Check out the downloads at the bottom of this page)

🏠 Start With Your Home

Good home security doesn’t have to be complicated. It comes down to a few key ideas:

  • Make your home easy to be seen
  • Make it hard to get in
  • Make it hard to leave with your property
  • Make it hard to use or benefit from stolen items

✔️Simple things You Can Do Today

Outside your home

  • Keep your yard tidy—trim trees and bushes around doors and windows
  • Make sure your house number is clearly visible
  • Install sensor lights where possible
  • Keep areas visible from the street

Doors & windows

  • Always lock doors and windows—even when you’re home
  • Make sure doors are solid and locks are working properly
  • Use security screens or window locks where possible

Inside your home

  • Keep keys, wallets and phones out of sight
  • Don’t leave keys near doors or windows
  • Lock internal access points (like garage-to-house doors)

Security habits matter

  • Get into the routine of locking up every day
  • Don’t share information about your security setup
  • Report suspicious behaviour

🚗 Protecting Your Vehicle

Most stolen cars are taken because the opportunity is there.

Here’s how to reduce that risk:

✔️ Simple Ways to Protect Your Car

  • Always lock your car, even if you’re only gone for a minute
  • Fully close all windows and sunroofs
  • Never leave your keys in the car—or anywhere visible
  • Don’t hide spare keys on or near your vehicle
  • Remove valuables or keep them out of sight
  • Park in well-lit, visible areas whenever possible
  • Use off-street parking or a garage if available

🔧 Extra Protection Options

  • Steering wheel locks
  • Car alarms
  • Engine immobilisers
  • GPS trackers
  • Anti-theft screws on number plates

These don’t make your car impossible to steal—but they make it less attractive than the next one.

🔑 Keys Are the #1 Target

One of the biggest issues we’re seeing is offenders gaining access to keys inside homes.

👉 If someone gets your keys, they don’t need to break into your car—they just drive away.

Protect your keys:

  • Keep them out of sight at all times
  • Don’t leave them on benches, tables or near doors
  • Take keys with you—even when you’re at home
  • Never label keys with your name, address or rego

👥 Look Out for Each Other

Community safety isn’t just about locks—it’s about people.

  • Keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour
  • Look out for your neighbours
  • Report anything that doesn’t feel right

📞 Emergency: Call 000
📞 Non-urgent: Policelink 131 444 or report online or Crimestoppers 1800 333 000

📄 Download the Full Guides

For more detailed information, you can download the Queensland Police guides below:

🤝 Final Word

We can’t control everything—but we can make it harder for crime to happen.

Small actions taken every day…can make a real difference.
✔ Lock it
✔ Hide it
✔ Secure it

Safer homes. Safer streets. Stronger community.