Car owners are being warned to keep their keys secure even if they live several storeys above ground following a theft in which offenders allegedly stole two vehicles after scaling four storeys of an apartment building in Townsville, Queensland.

Townsville real estate agent and former police officer Jools Munro and her husband awoke on Wednesday morning to discover their two vehicles gone and their car and house keys missing from their fourth-floor apartment, the ABC reported. They initially found their front door still locked, before realising the offenders had instead entered through a balcony door, which had been left open overnight to allow fresh air into the apartment.

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“We could see that our front door was still locked and that’s when we realised they’ve come up and over the balcony,” Munro told the ABC, which reported that it wasn’t the only alleged theft of its type in the area.

The alleged offenders reportedly ignored cash and electronic devices inside the apartment, instead targeting the keys to the couple’s vehicles. Fortunately, both cars were recovered after the couple used phone tracking apps to locate them parked in outer Townsville.

Queensland Police have warned the incident isn’t necessarily an isolated one, with Townsville’s Crime Prevention Unit reporting many break-ins involving thieves accessing balconies at blocks of units.

Sergeant Julie Cooke said alleged offenders have been climbing balconies and drainpipes to access unlocked properties, with vehicle keys, wallets and handbags among the items targeted. Despite the unusual nature of the latest theft, police figures suggest vehicle theft charges in the region have remained relatively steady compared to this time last year.

According to Queensland Police, there were 153 unlawful use of a motor vehicle charges recorded in August 2026, compared with 144 in August 2025, making for a slight increase. The investigation into the break-in is continuing and police have appealed for anyone with information or relevant CCTV footage to come forward.