Three teens named charged over stolen car saga from Mackay to Collinsville

One of the teens involved was busted with 22 assorted watches, up to nine mobile phones, five tablets, digital cameras and more.

These are the three Mackay teens linked to a stolen vehicle saga between Mackay and Collinsville.

Two have pleaded guilty to their roles, while the third has been remanded in custody facing more than 40 charges.

Bowen Magistrates Court has heard some reasoning behind the bizarre spree that began when a Peugeot was stolen from Andergrove.

Mackay teen Shae Breanna Cross, 18, was desperate to visit her brother.

Shae Breanna Cross was one of three teens charged over two stolen cars including a Peugeot taken from Andergrove and discarded on the way to Bowen.

He was living with family in Collinsville and the pair had not seen each other for about one month.

The court heard she spoke to her co-accused about trying to get to Collinsville and one allegedly said, “I’ve got a car.”

Prosecutor David Epstein said overnight on July 9-10 a Peugeot was stolen from an Andergrove home.

The court heard Cross and co-offender Noah Schimke, 18, said they did not know the Peugeot was stolen until they were in Collinsville when they were allegedly told it was “red hot”.

It was here a second vehicle, a Mazda, was stolen. The victim had left the keys in the ignition and the motor running because he had just run into the Stanley St store to make a quick purchase.

It is alleged the trio dumped the Mazda down a dirt road when it ran out of fuel and drove around in the Peugeot until it also ran out of fuel and was left on side of Peter Delemothe Rd.

Police chased the trio into long grass where they tried to hide but were soon arrested.

“Perhaps not the most thought-out plan,” defence solicitor Cleo Rewald said.

“The situation was just never going to end well.”

Noah Schimke was caught with a huge amount of stolen property when police searched his bedroom in Mackay including 22 assorted watches.

Cross pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing over the saga, was placed on 12 months probation and convictions were not recorded.

Schimke pleaded guilty to the same charges as well as a raft of other offences linked to drugs and a large amount of stolen property found in his Mackay bedroom.

Police seized 22 assorted watches, two digital cameras, three laptops, five tablets, about nine assorted mobile phones and more.

He claimed he liked to collect watches and used his birthday money to buy them. Schimke also claimed his grandmother helped him buy some of the items before her death or he used his Centrelink money.

Schimke was also found with 1.9 grams of low quality methylamphetamines.

Ms Rewald said the death of his grandmother had left a massive hole in his support system as he had nothing to do with his mother and only sporadic involvement with his father who was often homeless.

“He’s still young … he had the ability to change his ways, your honour,” Ms Rewald said.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy remanded the teen in custody until later this month for sentence.

Kristopher Reece John Potter is facing more than 40 charges including the theft of a Peugeot from Andergrove that was discarded on the way to Bowen.

A freedom bid was made for the third teen charged, Kristopher Reece John Potter, who had been granted bail in Mackay only days ago, the court heard.

The 19 year old is facing 34 charges, including multiple counts of failing to appear.

He is also facing the same three charges as Cross and Schimke as well as burglary and commit over the theft of the Peugeot, attempted stealing, possessing drug utensils and breaching bail. He has not yet entered pleas.

Mr Potter became visibly upset in the dock as Mr Epstein argued he was an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and was “unlikely to appear”.

Mr Kennedy refused bail and he was remanded in custody. The case will be mentioned at a later date.