Two police cars rammed in youth crime crackdown in Cairns

Eight stolen cars have been recovered after a multi-unit operation by Cairns and Innisfail police which included the dog squad, child protection and a law enforcement helicopter. Read what happened here.

Police have revealed that five people arrested as part of a two-day multi-agency operation on Saturday were juveniles aged between 14 and 17 years old.

A police spokeswoman said on September 24, police received multiple calls regarding two vehicles being driven dangerously in the Cairns area, one of these being a white Toyota Camry stolen from Woree on September 23.

“The Camry was abandoned on Winkworth St where police were able to track, using dog squad, five of the vehicle’s alleged occupants, all of which were juveniles,” she said.

“The defendant was located hiding in a yard of a unit complex at Buchan St Bungalow.

“A 17-year-old girl was charged with three counts of attempted burglary two counts each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and driving unlicensed and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle.”

The spokeswoman said those arrested were boys and girls aged between 14 and 17, “who have all been charged with various offences including unlawful use of a vehicle and burglary.”

Police confirm intense multi-agency operation

Eight stolen vehicles have been recovered and 17 offenders have been charged with a total of 113 offences after a massive two-day operation by Cairns police.

On Saturday evening a Queensland Police Service representative confirmed an intense multi-agency operation had occurred in Cairns.

“At the start of the year, Cairns Police launched Operation Dryandra to drive down youth crime in the region,” she sad.

“As part of investigations, officers from the Cairns and Innisfail Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection Investigation Unit, Property Crime and the Dog Squad have been tracking several stolen vehicles involved in ongoing property crime in the division which were observed driving dangerously.”

The Queensland Police representative said on Saturday two police vehicles were damaged.

“Two police vehicles were rammed during operations on September 24, however there were no injuries,” she said.

“As a result of the two-day operation, eight stolen vehicles have been recovered and 17 offenders have been charged with a total of 113 offences

“Investigations continue.”

The flight pattern of a police helicopter with a spotter as multiple police vehicles were observed driving at code 1 with lights and sirens on Cairns main roads on September 24, 2022.

The operation did not go unnoticed on Saturday afternoon.

While many Cairns residents were watching their team battle it out at the CDRL grand final, sirens could be heard and several Cairns police cars were observed driving with lights and sirens blaring along the Cairns Western Arterial Road at Redlynch.

The helicopter flight pattern showed police were looking as far south as Edmonton and as far north as Redlynch as officers sought the alleged offenders.

A police helicopter was observed circling Cairns while multiple police cars drove along the Cairns Western Arterial midafternoon on Saturday, September 24, 2022. File photo

Originally published as Two police cars rammed in youth crime crackdown in Cairns