A Queensland mother has allegedly been assaulted by two teenagers on the Gold Coast after they attempted to steal a car while she cared for a young child in the back of the vehicle.
The 36-year-old woman was changing a child’s nappy in the boot of the parked Jeep Grand Cherokee in Surfers Paradise on Saturday about 6pm when one of the teens allegedly jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to start the engine.
Woman assaulted during struggle
A 60-year-old woman was also inside the car at the time. Police said a 42-year-old man who owned the car was nearby and allegedly ran over and pulled the teen out of the Jeep before a “physical struggle occurred”.
A second teenager and the baby’s mother became involved in the struggle, with one of the teens allegedly punching the woman in the face a number of times.
Teens arrested and charged
Both of the young offenders allegedly ran from the scene, taking off in a black Kia Rio. The Kia and the alleged offenders were found a short time later on Riverview Parade and were taken into custody.
Two 17-year-old Grafton boys have since been charged with multiple offences, including attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle and assault occasioning bodily harm. Both boys are expected to appear in the Southport Children’s Court on Wednesday.
Similar incident in Townsville
Only two days later, another Queensland mother watched helplessly as alleged thieves stole her car with her baby in the back seat. The woman was cleaning the car at her home in Townsville about 1.45pm on Monday while her baby slept in a car seat when someone jumped in the vehicle and drove away.
The thieves in the car returned about two minutes later, with police saying they took the baby out, still strapped into the car seat, and placed the child on the kerb before driving off again. The offenders have yet to be found with police asking anyone with information to come forward.
