UPDATE: 
 
A 15-year-old girl became the sixth youth charged in relation to a vehicle stolen during the alleged burglary of a Yorkeys Knob home earlier this week which resulted in the stolen vehicle being located in Port Douglas on Tuesday where five juveniles were arrested.

Continuing investigations yesterday morning resulted in Cairns Property Crime Squad officers locating and arresting a 15-year-old girl at her White Rock home just before 10am.

She was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

ERALIER:

Five juveniles, two as young as 12-years-old, were arrested in Port Douglas yesterday charged with a total of 39 property-related offences in a police operation involving officers from multiple jurisdictions over several hours.

The five youths, including one from Cooya Beach and the rest from the greater Cairns area, were located hiding in bushland in Four Mile after dumping a stolen vehicle.

Investigations began after three vehicles were stolen in Cairns yesterday morning, following the alleged burglary of a Yorkeys Knob home overnight on Monday, where an orange Holden Commodore sedan and a white Ford sedan were allegedly stolen.

The white Ford sedan was found abandoned in White Rock at around 10.45am, while a third abandoned stolen vehicle was located and recovered in the vicinity of the Yorkeys Knob crime scene.

The stolen orange Commodore was later sighted in Port Douglas by Police resulting in the Cairns Property Crime Squad, Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and Cairns Dog Squad officers travelling to Port Douglas.

The stolen vehicle was subsequently located on Helmet Street, Port Douglas just before 3pm and was seized.

Officers identified several recent burglary offences in the immediate area and a police cordon was established around the entire area after a group of youths were seen to flee into nearby bushland.

Two Dog Squad teams scoured the location.

At approximately 6.40pm, five youths were allegedly located hiding in the perimeter garden bed of a Barrier Street residence. The five were transported back to Cairns.

Detective Inspector Jason Smith said this was part of an important ongoing investigation by Police.

“Queensland police do not stand for this behaviour and I’m pleased that so far five juveniles have been apprehended for this and put before the courts and I anticipate in the future more offenders will be apprehended.

“This is part of a continual fight against juvenile crime engaged by Cairns detectives.”

Images of the juveniles with the stolen vehicle were circulated around Facebook and other social media sites.

“One concerning trend is the use of social media and the online streaming of their activities, however, when they put their faces online, we can use it against them as part of our investigations,” Detective Inspector Smith said.

Investigations are continuing into further persons of interest, while the charges of the five youths yesterday are as follows:

A 12-year-old Cooya Beach girl was charged with one count of burglary and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A 12-year-old Mooroobool boy was charged with two counts each of burglary and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, as well as single counts of entering premises and committing wilful damage, possession of stolen property and receiving tainted property.

A 13-year-old Manoora girl was charged with two counts of burglary, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count of entering premises and committing wilful damage.

A 14-year-old Manoora girl was charged with three counts each of burglary, five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, as well as one count of stealing.

A 16-year-old Manoora girl was charged with four counts each of burglary, six counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and single counts of stealing, entering premises and committing wilful damage, possession of stolen property and trespass.

They will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

Police are reminding residents to ensure that their home and vehicle security measures are adequate in order to avoid falling victim to property crime.