Cairns teen group’s alleged two-week rampage with stolen Toyota ends with 40 charges

Five boys aged 14 to 16 have been charged with 40 offences after using a stolen Toyota Yaris to smash through three Cairns businesses.

Police allege a stolen car was used like a battering ram to smash through a Brinsmead service station and two Bungalow car dealerships, causing significant damage to all three businesses (file picture).

Five teenage boys have been charged with 40 property-related offences following an alleged brazen two-week crime spree which terrorised Cairns suburbs and left a trail of destruction across the city’s north.

The group included two 14-year-olds from Manoora and Woree, two 15-year-olds from Woree and Gordonvale, and a 16-year-old from Manunda.

The coordinated attacks by the youth crime group, spanning 14 days between June 14 and June 27, peaked on Thursday, June 26 when its alleged they broke into a Cairns North home and stole a Toyota Yaris.

Within hours, police allege the stolen car was used to transport the group to the Mobil servo in Brinsmead where they smashed their way inside. Two Bungalow car dealerships were also broken into, causing significant damage to all three businesses.

The Property Crime unit arrested four teenagers on Saturday, June 28, with the fifth member – a 16-year-old Manunda boy – being tracked down and taken into custody the following day.

Police refused bail for all five offenders. The boys will appear before Cairns Children’s Court on Monday June 30.

The 14-year-old Woree boy faces seven charges including break and enter and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, along with enter premise and commit indictable offence by break.

Another 14-year-old Manoora boy was hit with 10 charges, including multiple counts of disguising his face during crimes. Along with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter and commit, armed with intent to break and enter, attempted enter premises with intent, possess by night instrument of house breaking.

A 15-year-old Gordonvale boy faces four charges related to vehicle theft and break-ins, while a 15-year-old Woree boy was charged with four offences including dwelling break-ins.

Additionally the 16-year-old Manunda boy has been charged with two counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Originally published as Cairns teen group’s alleged two-week rampage with stolen Toyota ends with 40 charges