The Far North District has seen a downturn in robbery and unlawful entry offences following efforts by local police to target property offending, as part of Operation Yankee Forge and the newly formed Tablelands Property Crime Unit.

Since 27 February, 325 people have been charged with 768 offences, including 161 children and 164 adults.

The Far North has also seen a downturn in offending in the last financial year, including a 8.2% decrease in robbery offences, a 6.3% decrease in unlawful entry offences, and a 4.3% decrease in assaults.

On 25 April, five teenage boys were arrested by the Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Far North Dog Squad and Cairns Property Crime Unit following the theft of a Mitsubishi Outlander from Whitfield on 24 April.

It will be alleged the vehicle was subject to a tyre deflation device on Windarra Street, before the group fled on foot and were located by Police Dogs Elvis and DJ.

It will also be alleged the group was involved in break and enters in Bayview Heights and Whitfield and multiple attempted break and enters in Mount Sheridan, Mooroobool and Manunda between 23 April and 25 April.

The boys were charged with a total of 34 offences including unlawful use of motor vehicle, attempted enter dwelling, enter dwelling and commit, wilful damage and obstruct police.

The 17-year-old boy and 13-year-old boy appeared before the Cairns Childrens court yesterday, 28 April.

The 11-year-old boy, 13-year-old boy and 14-year-old boy were due to appear before the Cairns Childrens Court on 29 April.

The Tablelands Property Crime Unit has marked a milestone, charging 102 people with 331 offences during its first two months of operation.

On 23 April, officers arrested a 24-year-old Mareeba man following an armed robbery in Dimbulah the night before.

It will be alleged the man entered a Raleigh Street property around 8.40pm and threatened the occupant with a knife, before stealing a white Holden Cruze.

No one was physically injured, and the pair were known to each other.

The man was charged with two counts of stealing, and one count each of armed robbery and enter with intent.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates court on 29 June.

Police are calling for anyone with CCTV or dashcam, or witnessed a white 2012 Holden Cruze sedan, registration 375PS9 driving between or in Mareeba and Dimbulah between 8pm on 22 April, and 10am on 23 April, to come forward.

Far North District Superintendent Mick Searle said local police are continuing to put pressure on repeat offenders, causing harm in the community.

“The benefit of a locally led operation like Operation Yankee Forge, and the creation of the Tablelands Property Crime Unit means we can use more effective, intelligence-driven strategies to target those high harm offenders, take them into custody and put them before court,” Superintendent Searle said.

“We have some of the best police officers in the state working together in the air, on the streets and behind the scenes to disrupt this illegal and dangerous property offending, before harm is brought to the community.”

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0:00 – 1.06: QP2600795266: Five teenage boys were arrested by the Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Far North Dog Squad and Cairns Property Crime Unit following the theft of a Mitsubishi Outlander from Whitfield on 24 April. It will be alleged the vehicle was subject to a tyre deflation device on Windarra Street, before the group fled on foot and were located by Police Dogs Elvis and DJ.
 
1.06 – end: QP2600779927: On 23 April, officers arrested a 24-year-old Mareeba man in Mareeba following an armed robbery in Dimbulah the night before.

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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