Alleged teen offenders will face court in Hervey Bay over property offences

Teen crime is coming at a big cost to Bay businesses as police arrest a series of alleged offenders following a shocking spate of break-ins.

Richard Watt and his wife Gwen had stopped by their shop on Main St, Hervey Bay on their way to church Sunday morning when they realised the front glass door had been shattered.

Hervey Bay’s small businesses have been under siege in recent weeks as teens allegedly wreak havoc across the city.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Harbison told the Chronicle while juvenile crime was a challenge across Queensland right now, there had been a spike in property offences on the Fraser Coast.

He said the public to expect to see more police around the streets at night to combat this rise.

Richard Watt and his wife Gwen had stopped by their shop on Main St, Hervey Bay on their way to church Sunday morning when they realised the front glass door had been shattered.

A 14-year-old boy was last week charged in relation to nine break and enters at businesses across the Bay.

Businesses targeted included Pialba’s Subway restaurant, Autopro, Cut it Out Christa in Urangan, Mum’s Charcoal Chicken, Burger Urge at Stockland, Barbecues Galore, Coffee Central and Menus on Main.

That arrest was followed by an incident in which a teen threw a rock through the window of Richard Watt Optometrist on the weekend and was filmed casually rummaging through the office drawers.

Damage was also done to the Sticky Fig cafe and Hervey Bay Artisan Pasta.

Det Snr Sgt Harbison as most businesses left little to no cash on premises, thieves often reaped little reward from their offending but it was still frustrating and expensive for business owners who were left with the clean up costs.

“The damage caused is really major for these businesses involved,” he said.

“A lot of them can’t afford to claim it on insurance and the cost to repair windows and the like runs into the thousands of dollars.

“It’s not unusual, we do get these spikes depending on what’s happening at any one point in time.

“We react to it as soon as it happens and get on top of it.”

He urged the public to report any suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Harbison said arrests had been made as police investigated a spate of property offences across the region.

He will face Hervey Bay Childrens Court on a later date.

This week, two boys and a girl have been charged in relation to a strong of property offences.

The offences happened between August 16 and September 12.

Police will allege glass doors glass doors were smashed in order to gain access to the businesses and cash and other items were stolen.

A 13 year old Hervey Bay was charged with three counts of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break, one count of trespassing, one count of stealing and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Richard Watt and his wife Gwen had stopped by their shop on Main St, Hervey Bay on their way to church Sunday morning when they realised the front glass door had been shattered.

A 14 year old boy was charged with 12 counts of entering a premises and committing and indictable offence by break and one count of attempted enter premises with intent to commit and indictable offence.

A 15 year old Hervey Bay girl has been charged with two counts of enter premises and commit an indictable offence by break and one charge of unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

All three are due to appear in Hervey Bay Childrens Court at a later date.

In addition, a teenage girl was charged with 43 counts of fraud after she allegedly obtained a stolen debit card and used the cards at various businesses across Hervey Bay.

Police will allege between September 4 and 6, the girl, 15, attended various businesses in Pialba and Urraween and obtained goods using the tap and go facility.

She will appear in court at a later date.