Queensland Police kick off Operation Whiskey Legion to crackdown on crime in Ipswich, Logan
An Ipswich teen allegedly assaulted a 55-year-old woman in broad daylight yesterday to steal her car. They are just one of 17 people arrested within first 24 hours of the police's latest operation to crackdown on crime in the southeast.
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Police have charged 17 people, including seven teenagers, within the first 24 hours of their latest operation to crackdown on crime across the southeast.
Less than 24 hours after the launch of Operation Whiskey Legion yesterday, April 2, police have charged 13 people Ipswich and four offenders in Logan with multiple property offences.
The major multi-level operation involves increased police presence at shopping centres, public spaces, and on the roads, to target high-risk property crime offenders.
The first arrests include a 17-year-old Moores Pocket boy charged with armed robbery after he allegedly threatened and assaulted a 55-year-old woman at approximately 12pm, April 2.
It will be alleged he stole her vehicle after approaching her while she was waiting inside a parked BMW along Darling Street East.
The boy was taken into police custody around 3pm at a Lyrebird Lane address in Bellbird Park.
Another boy, aged 16, was also taken into police custody at the property and charged over a number of alleged break ins and stolen vehicles offences across the Ipswich District dating back to February 1.
He has been charged with two counts each of unlawful use of motor vehicle, and enter dwelling and commit, and one count each of enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence, enter premises and commit indictable offence, enter dwelling with intent in company, and attempted enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.
Both boys were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Ipswich Childrens Court today, April 3.
A 28-year-old Ipswich man was also arrested at the Lyrebird Lane address and charged with possess utensils or pipes that had been used.
In Logan, police have charged a 13-year-old Eagleby boy was charged over six alleged break ins across Logan and the Gold Coast, and the theft of a vehicle from a Wagner Street property on March 21.
It is alleged the boy smashed the windows to gain entry to multiple businesses before stealing cash from inside.
He was charged with six counts of enter premise and commit, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of attempted enter premise and commit and possession of tainted property.
He was refused bail and will appear in the Beenleigh Childrens Court.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) announced the start of Operation Whiskey Legion in Ipswich and Logan on April 2.
The major multi-level operation to reduce crime across Queensland will see an increased police presence on roads and in public spaces.
Ipswich District Officer Acting Superintendent Jim Munckton said the first deployment of Legion in Ipswich would see a strong focus on high visibility policing.
“The Ipswich community can expect to see extra police on our roads and around public spaces including on public transport,” Acting Superintendent Munckton said.
“We’ll have a really high concentration of police in our shopping centres, city centre, parks and other high-volume areas.
“You will also see Highway Patrol officers intercepting vehicles and conducting random alcohol and drug tests as part of the multi-level operation.”
Deputy Commissioner for Specialist Operations Cheryl Scanlon said their aim was to keep the community safe, while also supporting frontline general duties officers.
“We are targeting high-risk individuals that are causing the most harm in our community,” Deputy Commissioner Scanlon said.
“This is also about supporting local police on the ground and making the best use of our specialist resources to support local efforts in driving down crime.”
The operation will include additional specialist police deployed alongside local officers to target and prevent offences, including vehicle theft and property crime, robbery, assault and Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).
The operation officially commenced in Ipswich and Logan today, April 2, and will be expanded to other areas across the state in the coming weeks.
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