A Gold Coast couple, Leila and Hamid, have been slapped with a staggering $6,258 fine after masked thieves stole their family car during a terrifying home invasion earlier this year. The couple have since launched a scathing critique of Queensland Police, accusing them of a profound lack of action and support in the aftermath of the crime.
Shocking Break-In Leaves Family Traumatised
The ordeal began when intruders broke into the couple's home on the Gold Coast's so-called glitter strip. Hamid recounted the harrowing details, explaining that the thieves already possessed Leila's car key when they attempted to enter the bedroom to seize keys for other vehicles. In the process, they pilfered random items including a vacuum cleaner, a gym bag, and some shoes, likely bumping the door as they moved through the bedroom.
Hamid was awakened by the noise and went to investigate, prompting the thieves to flee initially. However, as he was calling the police and safeguarding his family, the criminals returned with brazen audacity. "They came back with no fear and just took the car, finished the job," Hamid stated, leaving the entire family, especially their two young children, deeply distraught.
Police Failure to Investigate
In a frustrating twist, Queensland Police have yet to visit the couple's home to conduct a proper investigation, nearly three weeks after the incident. Hamid expressed his dismay, noting, "It's been about three weeks and the police still haven't arrived." Compounding their distress, the couple received an infringement notice because one of the thieves was captured driving the stolen car without a seatbelt by a traffic camera. "And unfortunately, we've now received an infringement that Mr Bad Guy wasn't wearing a seatbelt," Hamid added sarcastically.
Hamid revealed that he has only spoken with a detective over the phone, who allegedly warned him that break-ins in the area are "only going to get worse." This has fuelled the couple's frustration, as they question why surveillance cameras along the Gold Coast highways can issue fines but fail to capture vehicle registration details to apprehend criminals. "How is it the cameras can get us with a fine, but they can't capture the rego and stop the thieves driving the car?" he demanded.
Children's Trauma and Psychological Impact
The break-in has had a severe psychological impact on Leila and Hamid's children. Their four-year-old daughter, struggling to comprehend the event, has asked if monsters entered their home. Meanwhile, their seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed the entire incident, has been profoundly affected. Leila shared, "I've been to the psychologist twice with her, trying to stop this from turning into PTSD for her."
The older child now exhibits significant anxiety, particularly at night. "When it's nightfall, she won't go to her room and she just sticks to Hamid and I and asks 'What if the bad guys come back?'" Leila explained. She recounted trying to calm her daughter on the day of the break-in, assuring her that the police would come—a promise that has yet to be fulfilled, exacerbating the family's sense of vulnerability and betrayal.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Queensland Police for comment on the matter, but as of now, the couple continues to grapple with the financial penalty and emotional fallout from the crime, all while feeling abandoned by the authorities meant to protect them.
