Crime wave: Police operation targets theives
Monday March 9 2015, 12:30pm
A police operation codenamed 'North Alloy' targeting key suspects in a recent spate of break-ins and car thefts enjoyed significant success over the weekend with the arrest and charging of two persons of particular interest to the operation.
A 14-year-old Yarrabah boy was taken into custody yesterday morning near Cardwell after the car that he was allegedly driving, as well as a second allegedly stolen vehicle, were sighted speeding north at Toobanna, near Ingham. It will be alleged that both of the vehicles had been stolen during burglary offences at Mount Louisa and Annandale the previous night.
Officers subsequently deployed road spikes at a location near Cardwell which brought the vehicles to a controlled stop. The occupants then fled into bush land, however officers located the boy and he was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with a total of 21 offences including multiple counts of burglary, unlawful use of motor vehicles, failing to stop and other offences.
A 15-year-old Townsville boy who was a passenger in the vehicle was also arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of stealing and obstructing police. Both of the boys will be dealt with under the provisions of The Youth Justice Act 1992.
Some hours later, officers located and arrested a 17-year-old male youth who it will be alleged was the driver of the second stolen vehicle. He was charged with a total of 23 offences similar to the younger youth and is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.
Operation North Alloy is now in its third week and has drawn both plain-clothed and uniformed officers from across the district in an effort to arrest a recent upward spike in burglary and vehicle theft offences right across the Far North.
Acting Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius has praised his officers for their efforts with the operation.
“Police are well aware of the angst and heartache that these sorts of offences cause in the wider community, and our officers have been particularly diligent in locating and arresting a number of people whom the operation has identified as being key targets,” Acting Chief Superintendent Schafferius said.
“North Alloy has thus far seen over ten offenders arrested and charged with more than 70 offences, however there is still a great deal of work to be done. We are confident of more arrests and further charges as a result of the hard work and on-going commitment of these officers.”
Mr Schafferius also expressed his thanks to the local community for their assistance to the operation, and urged people to remain vigilant by ensuring their dwellings were adequately locked and vehicle keys secured.
