Violent robbery, car thefts: teenagers charged over alleged Central Queensland crime spree

Several attempted burglaries and vehicle thefts allegedly took place across the Central Queensland region on Thursday night, including in Emu Park, Kawana, Berserker, South Rockhampton, and Gracemere.

Rockhampton police are investigating an overnight crime spree in which perpetrators snuck into the homes of sleeping residents and stole six cars.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mick Logan from the Rockhampton Child Protection and Investigation Unit said several attempted burglaries and vehicle thefts took place across the region on Thursday night, including in Emu Park, Kawana, Berserker, South Rockhampton, and Gracemere.

He said a group of people allegedly stole six cars and tried to steal a seventh.

“What’s of particular concern to us is that in many of these instances the owners of these vehicles were at home,” Mr Logan said.

“They were asleep in their beds for the night; they weren’t even aware that their house had been entered, their keys had been stolen, and then their cars stolen, until they got a call from police that their vehicles had been located.

“I don’t believe they’re all linked, however I do believe that there is a group that is currently under investigation.”

Two teenage girls, one from Koongal aged 17, and another from Berserker aged 15, were arrested at 1am and were due to appear in Children's Court on Friday.

A 17-year-old boy was put in medical care after he was tracked and bitten by a police dog as police were attending to the alleged burglaries.

Mr Logan said that aside from charges to do with the alleged burglaries and car thefts, it would be alleged the girls robbed a liquor store at Stockland on Thursday.

He said they allegedly attempted to steal six packs of ready-to-drink cans from the store and assaulted a security guard who tried to intervene.

The 17-year-old girl was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two of stealing, one of enter dwelling, and one of robbery.

The 15-year-old had two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one of trespass, one of burglary, and two of stealing.

Some of the stolen vehicles were damaged, and police are appealing for information about two that remain outstanding: a yellow Honda Jazz with number plate 176VVD and a grey Suzuki Vitara with plate 832WKQ.

“We do ask people to be mindful of their home security and their vehicle key security,” Mr Logan said.

“In the large majority of the cases overnight, the houses were unsecured … and then the keys were located inside the house, and the entry and exit to the house essentially made no noise.”

He said people should make it more difficult for people to enter their homes and find their keys, and encouraged anybody with information to get in touch with police directly.

“We do appreciate the information that is coming through various social media forms, however unfortunately we can’t be sitting around reading every single community group and every single comment,” Mr Logan said.

“The best and surest way to make sure that a police officer is reviewing the information or the video footage that you have is to contact Policelink on 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers.”