Far North Police have shown they won’t roll over in their efforts to sniff out property crime offenders, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle property crime.

The highly visible operation will focus on targeting unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry offences, with officers focused on preventing, disrupting and investigating crime.

On 19 March, officers from the Cairns Property Crime Squad have reunited a dog with its owner after it was stolen from Mount Sheridan earlier that day.

Around 8am, it will be alleged a 22-year-old Yorkeys Knob man entered an Audi station wagon parked at a Mount Sheridan shopping centre, before stealing the vehicle with the owner’s border collie on the back seat.

Police were called and an hour later located the border collie on Bicentennial Road, unharmed.

Around 9.30am the vehicle was subject to a tyre deflation device at the intersection of Kidman and Hopkins Street, before it was abandoned and damaged at Scarlet Close.

The border collie was returned to his owners.

On 20 March, the man was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on 7 May.

On 19 March, Police Dog Elvis located two 18-year-old men following the theft of a Nissan QashQai from a Kewarra Street address.

Elvis located the men lying in water under a parked vehicle on Tills Street.

The 18-year-old Edmonton man was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and receiving tainted property.

The 18-year-old Manoora man was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Both men are due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on 8 April.

On 20 March, police responded to reports of a Subaru Outback stolen from a Sheridan Street property earlier that morning.

The vehicle was subject to a tyre deflation device on James Street around 2am on 21 March, and PD Elvis was deployed.

Elvis located a 35-year-old Parramatta Park man on McCormack Street a short time later.

He was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and contravene direction or requirement.

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on 9 April.

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Operation Yankee Forge is a six-month, district-led, statewide initiative targeting high-harm and high-volume offences, including unlawful use of motor vehicles, unlawful entry and robbery.

The operation will enhance policing activities across Queensland to reduce victim numbers and strengthen community safety.

Police regions, supported by specialist squads, will undertake coordinated disruption activities across the state. Police will target high-harm offenders and work closely with partner agencies to ensure offenders are held accountable. With a strong focus on crime prevention, police will be highly visible as they prevent, disrupt and investigate offending, with particular emphasis on unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry.

The operation will be locally led and centrally coordinated, leveraging the knowledge and experience of officers who know their communities best.

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