Nambour charity calls for action after copper theft, break-in

Neighbours Aid Operations Manager Suzie Hinson.

A Nambour charity is calling for urgent action on theft and property crime in the town after thieves cut copper pipes from its Howard Street head office, cutting off the building's water supply.

Neighbours Aid Ltd operations manager Susie Hinson said staff arrived at work (Monday September 14) to find the water had been disconnected, with Unitywater later confirming copper pipes had been stolen from the building's exterior.

It follows a break-in at the charity's Minyama store just a week earlier, in which donated jewellery intended to fund its charitable work was stolen.

"Sadly, this is not an isolated incident," Ms Hinson said. "These incidents are occurring at a time when charities and businesses are already facing increasing financial pressures."

Ms Hinson said the cost of such crimes went well beyond the value of what was taken, with charities and businesses left to absorb lost trading time, repair and replacement costs, insurance claims, higher security spending and significant staff time managing the fallout.

"For charities, every dollar spent responding to theft and vandalism is a dollar diverted away from supporting vulnerable members of our community," she said.

The incidents come as community volunteers spent the weekend cleaning the town's streets and creek, an effort Ms Hinson said reflected the pride and community spirit that make Nambour a great place to live, work and volunteer — spirit she said was being undermined by ongoing theft.

"Nambour has so much potential, and there are many individuals and organisations working hard to strengthen and revitalise our town," she said. "However, the ongoing impact of theft and property crime cannot be ignored."

The Call to Action follows...

Call to Action

We urge the Sunshine Coast Council, local law enforcement, the Nambour Chamber of Commerce, and our community leaders to work together to identify practical solutions that will reduce theft and improve community safety. Whether through increased CCTV coverage, improved street lighting, greater police visibility, targeted crime prevention initiatives, or stronger support for affected businesses and charities, action is needed before these incidents become accepted as part of doing business in our town.

Nambour deserves to be known for its community spirit, not for the cost of crime. We welcome the opportunity to be part of a broader conversation about how we can better protect the businesses, charities, volunteers, and residents who contribute so much to our community.

Tougher penalties 

Nicklin MP Marty Hunt said copper theft had become an issue across Queensland, and the impact went well beyond the value of what was stolen. “When a charity or local business is left dealing with damage, repairs and disruption, that is time, money and resources taken away from the work they do in our community,” Mr Hunt said.

“We recently introduced substantially tougher proposed penalties for metal theft, including penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for stealing valuable metal, with even higher maximum penalties where theft causes major disruption or puts people’s lives or health at risk.

“Community safety in Nambour is one of my major priorities as State MP and that’s why we delivered the Nambour Police Beat, plus secured $500,000 for CCTV in Nambour CBD – that funding is now with Sunshine Coast Council to rollout.

“We are doing a lot in the space of community safety, extending Breach Bail Go to Jail laws which will be the strongest bail laws in the nation, more police on the beat, Jack’s Law is now permanent, Adult Crime Adult Time has led to victim numbers decreasing and so much more.

“As always, I regularly meet with and work with the Nambour Chamber of Commerce, Mayor and local councillors, police, local businesses and community organisations to identify what more we can do – there is a lot to do to clean up Labor’s decade of being weak on crime.”

Nambour Chamber of Commerce ‘committed to being part of the solution’

The Nambour Chamber of Commerce Vice President Brian Bugenhagen said the chamber  condemned the theft and property crime experienced by Neighbours Aid and other local businesses and community organisations.

“These incidents have a real and growing impact on the people who invest, work and volunteer in Nambour. Every dollar and every hour spent repairing damage or replacing stolen property is money and resources taken away from supporting our community and growing local businesses.

“The Chamber believes Nambour needs a coordinated approach involving Council, Queensland Police, businesses, charities and community organisations, with practical measures such as improved CCTV, lighting, crime prevention initiatives and greater police visibility.

“Our message is simple: crime cannot become accepted as the cost of doing business in Nambour. Our businesses, charities, volunteers and residents deserve better, and the Chamber is committed to being part of the solution.”