An attempted car theft was stopped by the use of a car immobiliser in Bungalow.

A car immobiliser stopped thieves from committing a robbery on Tuesday morning.

A Bungalow resident whose car was tampered with by thieves three times is urging people to install immobilisers in their cars.

It was 4am on Tuesday when thieves broke into Kyen Gandini’s bungalow, stole his keys, and tried to steal his car.

Mr Gandini saw the intruders trying to leave his home after his dog woke him up.

“I saw them starting the car when the dog woke me up,” Mr Gandini said.

In shock, I probably watched them for quite a while.

“They must have been frustrated with the immobiliser, so they removed the keypad… then they looked at each other, got out, and casually strolled away.”

There has been a break-in at Mr Gandini’s three times now.

As Mr Gandini was housesitting in Bayview Heights, burglars allegedly broke into his home twice, returning as retribution.

“They came back a second time to say f— you for calling the police,” Gandini explained.

They found the sniffer dogs at the creek on the property the second time they got the sniffer dogs.”

Indictable offenses including attempted burglary and committing an indictable offence were charged against a 17-year-old Mooroobool boy.

During a state government trial last May, Mr Gandini installed an immobiliser on his car as part of a $500 subsidy program.

As part of a $10m investment to reduce car thefts across Mount Isa, Cairns, and Townsville, the temporary trial ran between 2022 and 2024.

Cairns has seen 17 cars stolen since January 1, following an unprecedented 850 stolen last year – the second worst year on record.

An immobiliser should be installed by motorists, according to Mr Gandini.

“What is the value of your car? ” he said.

“My car could have been written off or been in a wreck so it just gives me peace of mind.

“It’s also about letting these kids know that it’s not OK and we’re going to make it difficult for you.”

Orginal by Cairns Post Car Immobiliser