Sunshine Coast couple Jonathan and Patti Holohan never expected a road trip to Surat to turn into a nightmare of theft and fear.
Their journey, which included a stop at Kingaroy, became a terrifying encounter with an offender that left them battered, traumatised and fearful for their safety.
On the evening of January 4, the Holohans arrived at the Kingaroy Showground Caravan Park.
They set up their small pop-top caravan and, after dinner, went to sleep, unaware that a criminal was preparing to strike.
“There was a torrential downpour from 11pm to 12am so we nodded off to sleep for a bit before locking up for the evening,” Jonathan says.
“At approximately 12.20am we were both woken by what seemed like a combination of an earthquake and tornado. The caravan shook violently from side to side.
“As the roof was in the extended position, the cans of food and other items pelted us in the head and body. We were both catapulted from one end of the interior to the other.”
Initially thinking it was a natural disaster, he shouted to his wife: “It’s an earthquake, Patti.”
But it was far worse than they imagined. Jonathan soon realised they were being targeted.
“I screamed to my wife: ‘It’s not an earthquake, Patti. Someone is in our vehicle. We are being towed across the showground.’”
The couple was trapped inside the caravan as the thief tried to steal their vehicle.
“The thief never saw the caravan safety chain or jockey wheel attached to the towing vehicle. He put the accelerator to the floor, but to no avail. That’s when my wife and I felt the full brunt of all hell breaking loose inside the van. It was terrifying,” Jonathan says.
The caravan eventually came to a stop outside the caretaker’s residence, at the edge of the showground adjoining the main road.
The thief, a hooded man, fled across the road into a nearby housing estate.
Police were called immediately and several officers arrived after other neighbours reported suspicious activity that night.
“Several other caravanners in the showgrounds were also broken into, including the main entrance gate office with lots of stuff stolen, including travellers’ medication,” Jonathan says.
The Holohans’ ordeal left them physically and emotionally shaken.
“We were very traumatised, battered and bruised. The back of our towing vehicle was damaged after being struck by the caravan towing A-frame several times,” Jonathan says.
They returned home the same day, still in shock and, at the time of going to print, the thief has not been apprehended.
A few weeks earlier, the couple faced another security incident in Palmwoods when their phone was stolen at a restaurant.
Patti confronted the thief, and police were again called.
“We knew he stole the phone. My wife Patti confronted him and said, ‘We know you have the phone’. He denied it. When he saw police arrive, he took the phone from his pocket and handed it to Patti,” Jonathan says. “The stealing of my phone was terribly distressing as I had to rush back to my house … to inform my bank and shut down my account and invoke other online security measures in a very short space of time. Just horrendous.”
Despite the repeated incidents, Jonathan praised the police response.
“Authority response: very good. I was relieved to see them. I feel that if the police had not arrived, (the thief) would have gotten away with the phone,” he says.
When asked about security measures, Jonathan admits that all travellers are vulnerable.
“As seasoned travellers, we have a set routine list and security measures,” he says.
“I personally believe that these criminals are professionals. They steal on specific days using weather conditions and time to their advantage – no question about it,” he says.
For the couple, the saying about misfortune arriving in threes has proved uncomfortably true. This is the third theft they have endured in recent years.
Jonathan recalls losing a $2500 Honda generator 18 months ago, stolen from outside his caravan near his daughter’s Palmwoods home.
“It was pouring with rain and incredibly stressful,” he says. “And just like this time, no one was ever apprehended.”
Sunshine Coast Police Superintendent Craig Hawkins says the region has been tackling similar issues through targeted operations.
“Sunshine Coast Police have been running Operation Xray Sorcerer which began in September 2025, focusing on preventing and disrupting anti-social behaviour by young people across the Coast,” he says.
As part of the operation, local police conduct proactive, high-visibility patrols including wanding and covert strategies to target public transport hubs, shopping centres and areas where young people are known to congregate.
Supt Hawkins says recent Sunshine Coast crime data shows positive trends.
“The number of victims of robberies between January and September 2025 are down by 12.4 per cent across Queensland compared to the same period the year prior,” he says.
However, long-term statistics reveal the challenges facing residents and our growing population.
Robberies on the Sunshine Coast have risen from 40 in 2015 to 104 in 2025, while trespassing and vagrancy incidents have more than doubled, increasing from 242 to 458 in the past decade.
Supt Hawkins emphasises the need for residents to engage in crime prevention.
“Crime prevention is a key strategy to reducing the risk of becoming a victim of crime. Many crimes in our community are opportunist offences where offenders use unlocked doors and windows to access your home or vehicle,” he says.
He urges residents and travellers to take simple precautions: “The simple strategy of ensuring your home and vehicle are locked, even when you are at home, keeping valuable items secure or hidden, keeping your house and car keys out of plain sight can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
“Sunshine Coast Police work tirelessly to detect, deter and disrupt offences through proactive and targeted intelligence patrols, localised policing operations including wandings and thorough investigations in order to bring those responsible for offences before the court.”
The Holohans’ experiences are a stark reminder of the personal, emotional and financial toll crime can have on everyday Australians.
While police work continues to prevent crime and support victims, Jonathan and Patti hope their story encourages others to take security seriously and be prepared for the unexpected while travelling.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
we all need to know
Confrontation in the home
By a known person:
- firmly advise the person their behaviour is not welcome
- order them to leave. If they refuse, leave (even if it is your home) and seek help
- physically defend yourself (using reasonable force in the circumstances)
- seek help from an appropriate service
- dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. You have the right to be safe.
By an unknown person:
When dealing with an intruder in the home, choose the option you believe will keep you the safest. Options may include:
- dial Triple Zero (000) at the earliest opportunity
- leave the house immediately, with other occupants if possible, and go to a neighbour or somewhere safe to contact and wait for police.
Depending on the situation, you could:
- turn on all the lights (inside and out) and make as much noise as possible to attract the attention of neighbours and passers-by and deter the intruder – for example, activate your home or car alarm
- or leave the house in darkness, find a safe hiding place or lock yourself in a room and call Triple Zero (000)
- if you are alone, call out to a fictitious person – for example, “Harry! I’m sure I heard something. I’m calling the police.”
- if you arrive home and suspect that an intruder is inside, do not go in. Instead, call the police
- if an intruder confronts you, remove yourself from the situation quickly. If you are unable to do this, other strategies may include: reasoning with the intruder; screaming; distracting the intruder to enable your escape; and/or physically defending yourself (using reasonable force).
Facts & Figures
Sunshine Coast Crime Trends (2015–2025)
- Robberies: 40 → 104 (up 160 per cent)
- Trespassing and vagrancy incidents: 242 → 458 (up 89 per cent)
Queensland 2025 Data
- Victims of robberies (January–September): down 12.4 per cent compared with 2024.
