Multiple explosions rock Earlville street causing mass evacuations
A spike in car thefts, including a torched Hyundai, an MG that flipped after crashing into parked cars and a vigilante who was clipped by a stolen Audi has Cairns police working overtime shifts to bring the youth crime wave under control.
A spike in car thefts, including a torched Hyundai, a MG that flipped after crashing into parked and a vigilante who was clipped by a stolen Audi has Cairns police working overtime shifts to bring the youth crime wave under control.
Police say it’s likely the release of a core group of teen offenders from juvenile detention centres late last week has been a contributing factor to 16 car thefts between Friday and Sunday.
Another eight vehicles were stolen on Monday night to bring the August stolen car total to 40 vehicles.
One recovered vehicle was a Hyundai i40 torched in the driveway of a Earlville unit block on Monday night that caused a series of explosions and the evacuation of nearby residents.
The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes at 2.20am and residents were able to return to their homes shortly after.
No injuries were reported.
Police alleged the vehicle had been stolen from a Woree home.
Also in the early hours of Tuesday morning an MG hatchback, stolen from Mount Sheridan collided with parked vehicles on Sheridan Street and rolled a number of times before offenders absconded from the wreckage.
Another group of kids after doing a fuel drive off were pursued by police before dumping the car and running into the Trinity Bay State School. The dog squad was called and three kids aged 13, 15 and were found hiding on the roof of one of the buildings before being taken into custody.
Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan said high on the list of police priorities was a stolen grey Isuzu MUX and a white Toyota Rav4, understood to have been stolen at knifepoint.
“Both vehicles have been sighted, driving dangerously throughout the day and we’re seeking public assistance to identify the whereabouts of those vehicles,” he said.
Police have also alleged a vigilante chasing a stolen Audi A3 on Saturday night attempted to intercept the vehicle that was driving dangerously on Mario Street and Sondrio Street in Woree.
The man got out of his Hilux and approached the Audi, before the driver sped off and clipped the man as it drove past.
Superintendent Goan said the man was not badly injured and the outcome could have been a lot more serious.
“A member of the public has tried to intervene and received minor injuries that could have been catastrophic,” he said.
“We we empathize with the public, we understand the frustrations
“But there’s a number of risks that the public face by engaging with these vehicles and the last thing we want to see is a person injured.
“People who engage in vigilante activity run the risk of potentially facing criminal charges.”
The Audi A3 owned by Cairns real estate agent Jan Hooghe was driven from the northern beaches to Redlynch on its rims before being boxed in by police on Sunday night.
“It’s true to say that we’re experiencing a bit of a spike in unlawful use of motor vehicle offences across Cairns,” he said.
Five out of the eight cars that were stolen overnight were taken using keys that were left out in plain sight which prompted police to remind residents to hide car keys and secure their homes to help deter more vehicle thefts.
Originally published as Multiple explosions rock Earlville street causing mass evacuations
