Smithfield police yesterday charged a 23-year-old Marian man with two counts of entering premises and commiting an indictable offence.

It is alleged a man broke into two vessels at Port Douglas sometime between 12am and 2am on December 29 and stole a large quantity of fishing rods and equipment, a power inverter and a battery.

The boat owners made inquiries locally and at about 1pm yesterday, located a suspect vehicle parked at Ellis Beach. Police were called. However, two men from the vehicle fled into bushland before police arrived.

One man was located by police nearby with police alleging they located scuba equipment, tools, fishing rods and other fishing equipment in the vehicle.

A 23-year-old Marian man is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on January 17.