Police have launched a search and rescue operation to locate a 65-year-old East Toowoomba man and a 69-year-old New South Wales woman missing from Croydon.

The man and woman were last seen leaving a caravan park located on Alldridge Street Croydon on November 10.

Investigations reveal the pair left to go prospecting at Esmeralda Station.

They were reported missing after they failed to return to the caravan park on November 11.

Police and family hold concerns for their welfare due to the difficult terrain and recent weather events.

Their vehicle, a white 2024 dual cab Toyota Hilux, was located on November 11, on Esmeralda Station near Rifle Creek Ridge with several personal items inside including mobile phones.

A search and rescue operation commenced in the area yesterday and is continuing today.

Assets deployed include Rescue 510, several mustering helicopters, QPS Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad officers on motorbikes and horseback and SES officers on foot with drone capabilities.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to contact to police.

Police have charged seven people with more than 60 property crime offences allegedly committed in the South Burnett area in the last three weeks.

It will be alleged the teenagers were involved in a series of robberies and break and enters in Kingaroy, Murgon, Cherbourg and Wondai during October and November.

Following extensive investigations from Murgon and Kingaroy Criminal Investigation Branch, as well as general duties, police arrested a 13-year-old Cherbourg boy and 15-year-old Cherbourg boy at a Cherbourg address on November 7.

The 13-year-old Cherbourg boy was charged with two counts of armed robbery in company using personal violence and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, possess utensils, possess house breaking implements, drive without due care and attention and unlicenced driving.

He was remanded in custody and is due to reappear before Kingaroy Childrens Court on January 9 next year.

The 15-year-old Cherbourg boy was dealt with under provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

On October 28, police charged a 16-year-old Cherbourg boy and a 17-year-old Cherbourg boy.

The 16-year-old Cherbourg boy was charged with nine offences including enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of motor vehicle, stealing and armed robbery in company.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear next before Kingaroy Childrens Court on January 9 next year.

The 17-year-old Cherbourg boy was charged with ten offences including enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of motor vehicle, stealing, armed robbery and unlicenced driving.
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear next before Kingaroy Childrens Court on January 9 next year.

On November 9, police charged a 13-year-old Cherbourg boy with seven offences, including armed robbery in company using personal violence, stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicle, possession of housebreaking implements and enter premises and commit by break.

He is due before Kingaroy Childrens Court on November 13.

On November 5, an 18-year-old Cherbourg man was charged with ten offences including disqualified driving, common assault, wilful damage, threatening violence, enter dwelling and commit and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

He was due before Murgon Magistrates Court on November 6.

On November 9 a 16-year-old Cherbourg boy was charged with ten offences including enter dwelling and commit indictable offence, unlawful use of motor vehicle and possess housebreaking implements.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear next before Kingaroy Childrens Court on November 13.

Vision:

Operation Whiskey Legion (OWL) has wrapped its return to Ipswich with more than 87 firearms seized during its deployment across the district.

While targeting illegal firearms, officers also focused on the storage of legal firearms with many found to be incorrectly stored during the 18 audits that were conducted. 

Weapons in our community are always a focus for police which is why OWL has prioritised compliance checks and detecting and seizing illegal firearms this deployment.

On November 11, officers arrested a 41-year-old Silkstone man in relation to a drug investigation.

It will be alleged at the time of the arrest police located a loaded firearm on the man and a quantity of drugs on himself and inside his vehicle.

Two subsequent search warrants on Riverview properties led to the alleged location and seizure of a large quantity of drugs and an additional five firearms.

The man has been charged with five counts of possessing of dangerous drugs (Methylamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, Cannabis and Buprenorphine), and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapons category H (revolver handgun), possessing relevant substance (Butanediol), possessing s4 and s8 medicines (Pseudoephedrine, Pregabalin, Quetiapine and Alprazolam), supplying dangerous drugs (Methylamphetamine), possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act (cash), possession of property suspected of having being acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence (clip sealed bags and digital scales) and possess tainted property (jewellery and vehicle keys).

He was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on November 22.

Shortly before 2pm on November 8, police executed a search warrant on a Raceview property in relation to a firearm and drug investigation.

It will be alleged during the search warrant officers located and seized a firearm, ammunition, telescopic baton, needles, and pipes used in relation to dangerous drugs.

A 35-year-old Raceview man has been charged with 10 offences including two counts of possess dangerous drugs (Oxandrolone, Clenbuterol), and one count each of unlawful possession of weapons Category H (firearm), authority required to possess explosives (ammunition), unlawful possession of category M weapon (telescopic baton), fail to take reasonable care or precautions in respect of syringe or needle (hypodermic syringe and needle), evasion offence (alleged on September 28 the man failed to follow a direction to stop his car by a police officer), offence to buy or possess S4 medicines (Orphenadrine), possess pipes for use (glass pipe for smoking dangerous drug), and possess property suspected or having being acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence (scales and clip seal bags).

He was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear before Richland Magistrates Court on February 11, 2025.

A 76-year-old man has had his firearms licence revoked following a firearm security audit by police at a Rosewood property.

It will be alleged on November 7 when officers first attended the property, they located 31 firearms incorrectly stored and seized them.

It will be further alleged following the failed firearm security audit, the man’s firearm licence was revoked, and officers returned to the property on November 9 to seize his remaining 30 firearms.

The 76-year-old Rosewood man has been charged with one count of secure storage of weapons – registered owner and is expected to appear before Ipswich Magistrate Court on December 3.

On November 8, police have also seized firearms from two men whose firearms licences have allegedly expired.

Shortly after 1:30pm, police allegedly attended a Mount Tarampa property and seized one firearm from a 62-year-old Mount Tarampa man.

Shortly before 3.30pm, officers allege they attended a Lowood property and seized an air rifle from a 28-year-old Lowood man.

Operation Commander, Detective Inspector Michael Manago said there is no excuse to be complacent when it relates to firearm safety.

“The Queensland Police Service is serious about firearm security,” Detective Inspector Manago said.

“Anyone who has been permitted to legally own a firearm has a legal obligation to ensure they secure it properly. This is for their safety and the safety of their family and community.”

The QPS is regularly conducting firearm security audits for anyone who is licenced to hold a firearm to ensure the community is safe. 

Learn more about the safe storage of firearms at Safe storage of weapons and ammunition | QPS (police.qld.gov.au).

The wrap of Operation Whiskey Legions return to Ipswich has resulted in 149 people charged on 484 offences over the past seven days.

Raising the state-wide OWL results to 4,166 people charged on 10,355 offences.

Operation Whiskey Legion will continue with rolling deployments in areas across Queensland.

Key statistics:

• Police conducted 57 high visibility patrols of hotspots across the district, including shopping centres and public transport stations.
• Officers engaged with 145 victims and offered 15 referrals.
• 1,381 roadside breath tests and 31 roadside drug tests were conducted, with officers issuing 301 traffic infringement notices.
• Police finalised 26 outstanding arrest warrants and executed 33 search warrants.
• 133 street checks were completed, and officers engaged with 799 members of the public.

Police have charged a 30-year-old Kingston man in relation to a fatal crash on the Bruce Highway Raglan last night, November 12.

Police will allege that shortly after 11pm, a white Nissan Navara was travelling south along the Bruce Highway when the Navara slowed down behind a Toyota Hilux due to a wide load. A Prime mover truck has failed to slow down and crashed into the Nissan Navara forcing it into the Hilux.

Two passengers in the Navara, a 40-year-old woman and 13-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries and died at the scene.

The 30-year-old driver of the Prime mover has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing death or grievous bodily harm.

He is due to appear before Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 9.

Investigations are continuing.

Earlier: https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2024/11/13/fatal-traffic-crash-raglan/

A 20-year-old man has been charged with sexual offences after reports multiple women had been inappropriately touched while exercising on footpaths in Buderim, Mountain Creek and Sippy Downs.

Police will allege the man inappropriately touched three women, not known to him, on three separate occasions at Glenfields Boulevard in Mountain Creek on September 11, Cavalry Way in Sippy Downs on October 29 and the corner of Hawthorn Court and Karawatha Drive in Buderim on November 9.

Investigations by the Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Mountain Creek man on November 8 and he has since been charged with three counts of sexual assault.

He is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 29.

Police are appealing to anyone with further information or anyone who has witnessed similar incidents to contact police. 

Detectives from the Major Organised Crime Squad Far Northern have charged six people following a seven-month investigation.

Operation Whiskey Oaklands was launched in May, in relation to drug trafficking in the Cairns and Far North area.

Earlier this month, police conducted 10 search warrants in Tully, Cairns, Innisfail and Hervey Bay.

As a result, 6 people were charged with 24 offences.

A 24-year-old Redlynch man was arrested in 3 on November 2024.

He was charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possess anything used in connection with a crime, and possess dangerous drug.

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on November 18.

On 3 November 2024, police executed a search warrant at a Mooroobool address and allegedly seized a quantity of cocaine, steroids, and more than $130,000 in cash.

A 41-year-old Mooroobool man was charged with five counts of possessing dangerous drugs and possess pipes that have been used.

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on November 26.

On October 30, a 29-year-old male and a 29-year-old female from Edmonton were both charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs.

They are both due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on November 15.

Officer in charge of Major Organised Crime Squad Far Northern Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace said dangerous drugs have no place in the Far North community.

“Operation Whiskey Oaklands demonstrates our ongoing focus on keeping harmful substances off the streets, and we will continue to act against anyone involved in trafficking dangerous drugs,” Detective Senior Sergeant Grace said.

“We continue to encourage the community to report suspicious behaviour to Policelink, or anonymous via Crime Stoppers, to help us target illicit substances.”

Vision:

Police are appealing for information following a burglary with violence at Zillmere last night, November 12.

Initial investigations indicate that around 10.35pm, two offenders have gained access to a Charlie Street address, assaulting a 76-year-old female resident upon entry.

A 56-year-old male resident confronted the two offenders and a physical altercation has occurred, resulting in the male resident sustaining non-life-threatening injuries to his face and body.

The offenders then stole several personal items, including a handbag and bank cards, before leaving the scene on foot.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam vision of the area around the time of the offence, to please come forward.

Investigations are ongoing.

Two people have died following a three-vehicle crash in Raglan late Tuesday, November 12.

Initial investigations indicate approximately 11.11pm, a semi-trailer was travelling south on the Bruce Highway near the intersection of Ragland Station Road when it struck the back of two utilities.

A 40-year-old woman and 13-year-old boy in one of the utes died at the scene.

The driver, a 42-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, who was a passenger, in the same ute were transported to Rockhampton Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver and passenger in the other ute sustained minor injuries.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstance of the crash.

All paws were on deck when Brisbane Water Police were called to reports of animals in distress in Nudgee Beach over the weekend.

Around 10.30pm on Saturday November 8, police conducted a welfare check on a vessel moored in the Kedron Brook waterway, following a report from a member of public.

Upon arrival, police located and rescued a puppy in the water, on a partially submerged tyre wedged between a sailing vessel and pontoon.

The puppy was transported to an emergency vet in Stafford for precaution and examination after being in the water.

Officers also located a second dog and a cat onboard, in what appeared to be of good health, and left behind food and water for the animals.

No persons were aboard the vessel at the time to aid the dog in distress or assist police with their enquiries.

The matter has been referred to RSPCA for further investigation.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating following a fatal single-vehicle traffic crash in Gordonvale yesterday afternoon, November 12.

Around 5pm, a red Holden Rodeo was travelling north on Bruce Highway in Gordonvale when it rolled over and landed on it roof.

The driver of the vehicle, a 31-year-old Gordonvale woman, died at the scene.

The passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Gordonvale, was transported to Cairns Hospital for treatment.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the crash and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who have relevant dashcam vision, to come forward.