Youth campaigner’s home robbed while on ocean cruise
A Cairns youth advocate who was robbed, allegedly by a group of teens, while on an ocean cruise has endured an anxious wait to find out what was stolen and how bad the damage was.
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A Cairns youth advocate who was robbed, allegedly by a group of teens, while on an ocean cruise has endured an anxious wait to find out what was stolen and how bad the damage was.
A 15-year-old boy has been located during police investigations into the alleged break in at Perri Conti’s Whitfield home on February 27, and while some items stolen from the house have been recovered, not everything has been returned.
Arriving home on Monday night, rather than being greeted by a home the way it was left, Ms Conti walked into a house that had been torn apart by thieves on the hunt for anything of value.
Belongings were ripped out of draws and scattered throughout the property and locks had been damaged in the process of gaining entry.
“They broke every lock, they tried the laundry door and then they jimmied the screen door lock and they ended up getting through the window,” she said.
The boy police allege was involved in the break-in was charged with one count each of enter dwelling, unlawful use of motor vehicle, receiving tainted property, and breach of bail.
Frustrated by the minefield crime victims have to navigate Ms Conti claims incorrect information was provided to a friend named as her agent who was directed to attend court on Friday to hear the matter.
After sitting in the public gallery it became clear the boy who appeared in court had nothing to do with the break in of her home.
It was later revealed the boy accused of busting into Ms Conti’s home was due to face the
Cairns Children’s Court on Tuesday.
“They gave out the wrong information,” she said.
“What is the point of having a new law to attend the children’s court when you can get the right information?”
Chair of the not-for-profit Changing Young Lives Ms Conti for the past 18 months has been working to open a youth hub at the old Kandi store on Hoare St where teenagers can hang out after dark.
Last year victims and the media were granted greater access to Children’s Court matters.
“These laws came in December, we are in March now, if you are working in the court you should be up to date on the laws,” she said.
“Imagine how hard it is for other people that don’t do what I do.”
Under changes to the Youth Justice Act the court still has the power to exclude media and victim representatives from the courtroom if it’s necessary to prevent prejudice to the administration of justice, or for the safety, but family of victims who have died cannot be excluded from proceedings.
Originally published as Youth campaigner’s home robbed while on ocean cruise
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