Police oppose bail for kids in alleged stolen car rampage
Recently busted by police two boys aged 14 and 12 have racked up 60 charges including the alleged theft of a Hyundai Kona seen tearing up Cairns streets at the weekend.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A fourteen-year-old boy will front court on 44 charges including the alleged theft of a Hyundai Kona seen tearing up Cairns streets at the weekend.
The arrest by detectives from the Property Crime Squad follows a weekend crackdown on juvenile crime that had led to the arrest of 28 people on a total of 222 property charges, 23 were juveniles.
Police allege the 14-year-old was involved in multiple property-related offences committed in the suburbs of Woree, Cairns North, Smithfield, Kanimbla, Redlynch, Stratford, Manunda, Bungalow, and Westcourt between September 18 and 25.
He was arrested hiding at a Manunda address on Monday.
A 12-year-old Bentley Park boy charged with 16 offences has also been arrested in relation to the outstanding Hyundai Kona.
Arrests follow an unusual move by Queensland Police to call in officers on days off and request the working of double shifts to tackle a weekend stolen car rampage.
Inspector Kevin Goan described the latest spate of crime plaguing the city to be “significant”.
“The concern to us is that there are still persons out there that are wanted for this type of offending. And there remains a risk to the community until they are brought into custody,” he said.
“The message I would have there is that if anyone has seen anyone behaving suspiciously, if they are seeing people driving in an erratic manner, then their obligation is to call the police call triple-0, and we will respond.”
The alleged offences were committed in a stolen silver Hyundai Kona (QLD Rego 558AS8) that police allege the boy stole from a Cairns North unit on September 25.
The vehicle is yet to be recovered.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
In a separate incident a car has allegedly been stolen from the Walker Road sporting facility.
The targeting of the Edmonton clubhouse followed two break-ins at the nearby PCYC earlier this month.
In a low blow that had volunteers furious, vehicles used by disadvantaged learner drivers were alleged to have been stolen.
Police allege the boy responsible for the Kia Rio stolen from Walker Rd committed offences in Bungalow, Bentley Park, Edmonton and White Rock between September 11 and 26.
The boy was also charged with threatening a woman in her 60s at her White Rock home.
Police have opposed bail for both boys and they are scheduled to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court.
More Coverage
Originally published as Police oppose bail for kids in alleged stolen car rampage