Cops target teen joyriders in ‘significant’ anti-crime operation

A teen busted allegedly stealing two cars in three days is one of the latest arrests in a string of hundreds this year – however car thefts remain on an upward trajectory. WATCH ARREST VISION

POLICE have opposed bail for a 16-year-old accused of stealing two cars in three days as officers log hundreds of arrests in a “significant” effort to curb a Far North property crime problem.

Since the beginning of the year officers working with Operation Dryandra have arrested 494 people on a total of 2448 charges, made up of 302 youths and 192 adults.

Including the 16-year-old Brinsmead boy who was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly breaking into houses in Cairns City and Manunda, finding car keys and stealing two vehicles.

Police inspector Kevin Goan said recently the single motivation of offenders doing house breaks was the theft of cars.

“And in the latest series of breaks that we’ve seen, the young people are simply targeting the car keys as the objective of gaining entry to dwellings,” he said.

“There’s a significant body of work being done in the detection and solving of crime, where we’re calling on public assistance is how we go about preventing the crimes in the first instance.”

He said a $100 engine immobiliser, dead bolts and actually locking doors were effective deterrents.

Cairns mum Julie Harrison recently had her vehicle destroyed by a hit and run driver at the wheel of a suspected stolen car. Picture: Julie Harrison

On Monday, according to police data, there had been 93 cars stolen between Gordonvale and the northern beaches.

In 2021, a six year car theft peak was recorded when 782 cars were knocked off – a theft rate, on average, of 65 cars a month last year has already been surpassed this month with seven days remaining in March.

Bradley Smith was declared dead on February 14 this year. Floral tributes at the scene of the crash lay amongst broken car pieces and tree bark. Picture: Brendan Radke

Though juvenile offenders were over represented in arrest figures, so far this year Insp Goan was wary about making any link between offenders under the care of the state in residential care homes and offending rates.

“If it’s the case that offences are committed within those residences, or kids that are staying in those residents that are out there that are committing offences, then we address that,” he said.

“There’s a number of things obviously, that we have in place with those agencies, including the youth co-responder team.

“There’s quite a few things that we’re doing collectively to help support those kids but also, where we can support the families to manage those young people that are either on the verge of criminal offending or actively engaged in criminal offending, post release from bail.”

Queensland police officers a man during Operation Dryandra. The operation has arrested 494 people on 2448 charges since the beginning of 2022. Picture: Queensland Police

The 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts each of burglary, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and receiving tainted property. He will remain in the watch house until a Cairns Childrens Court appearance.

Follow @petercarruther1

Originally published as Cops target teen joyriders in ‘significant’ anti-crime operation