Far North Police have charged more than 180 people with 402 offences during the first month of Operation Yankee Forge.
Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing APM launched Operation Yankee Forge in Cairns on 27 February, continuing the work of local police conducting high-visibility patrols and targeting high harm offending in the region.
The highly visible operation will focus on targeting unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry offences, with officers focused on preventing, disrupting and investigating crime.
Of the offences, there were 85 people charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, 20 charged with robbery and 126 people charged with unlawful entry offences.
On 26 March, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy at an Edmonton bus stop, after he was allegedly involved with several vehicles stolen from Mooroobool, Earlville and Cairns North during March.
He was charged with a total of 14 offences including three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle and two of stealing.
He has been denied bail and appeared before the Cairns Childrens Court on 27 March.
Police charged a 15-year-old Earlville boy and a 13-year-old Manoora boy following the theft of a Subaru Forester from a Whitfield address on the evening of 22 March.
Around 3am on 23 March, officers observed the boys sitting in the vehicle on McCoombe Street.
Both boys were charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and appeared in the Cairns Childrens Court on 25 March.
Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said results from the first month are promising, however police won’t take pressure off offenders.
“We are continuing to target anyone causing harm to the community and we want the community to know we will remain committed to ensuring their safety,” Detective Inspector Chetham said.
“Our officers will continue disrupting and preventing crime though intelligence-drive, high visibility and covert tactics.
“We are grateful to the community for their continued support in our efforts to disrupt property offending, and remand them to stay alert, report suspicious behaviour and take practical steps to protect their homes and neighbourhoods.”
0.38 – 1.05 QP2600552061: Two 15-year-old girls and a 15-year-old boy were charged following an incident late on 22 March. It will be alleged the three were part of a group who assaulted a 27-year-old woman near the corner of Smith and McLeod Streets, before stealing her mobile phone and handbag. The victim was later taken to Cairns Hospital and treated for injuries sustained during the incident. The 15-year-old boy will also be alleged to have been involved in a break-in at a Mayers Street home on the following night, 23 March. The trio have been charged with a total of ten charges including three counts of robbery with violence in company and one of breaking and entering. One of the 15-year-old girls and the 15-year-old boy have been dealt with under provisions of the Youth Justice Act. The other 15-year-old girl has been denied bail and appeared before the Cairns Childrens Court.
1.06 – 1.54 – QP2600552692: Police charged a 15-year-old Earlville boy and a 13-year-old Manoora boy following the theft of a Subaru Forester from a Whitfield address on the evening of 22 March. Around 3am on 23 March, officers observed the boys sitting in the vehicle on McCoombe Street. Both boys were charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and appeared in the Cairns Childrens Court on 25 March.
1.54 – end – QP2600559051: A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Woree on 25 March. It will be alleged he was involved in several incidents over the past couple of weeks including breaking into a Paluma St home on 25 March. It will also be alleged he was involved with a Volkswagen Golf stolen from a Wills Street home and later used in fuel drive-offs at Mulgrave Road service station. He was charged with two counts each of stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 28 April.
