Operation Viper: Dozens of charges laid after shocking spate of break-ins, theft across South Burnett, Gympie

Drugs, guns, stolen cars: An officer was allegedly targeted by a man he was investigating and two teens have been charged over a shocking violent robbery following a wave of crime across the South Burnett and Gympie regions.

More than a dozen people have been hit with 75 charges in relation to a shocking crime wave across the South Burnett and Gympie regions, with residents and police targeted in a frightening spate of assaults, car thefts, and property break-ins.

Detective Sergeant Scott Prendergast was allegedly targeted by a 20-year-old Cherbourg man he was investigating at the time, with police alleging he broke into the policeman’s wife’s car and stole personal property.

The man was arrested on Thursday morning after a allegedly attempting to escape police by scaling backyard fences, before being tackled, handcuffed, and hit with dozens of property, drug and driving charges.

He was also charged with vehicle thefts in Kingaroy and Goomeri, stealing alcohol from a Wondai business, and taking a cash register and lollies from a Haager Drive business in Moffatdale.

He was denied bail and is due to appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday.

Detectives from Kingaroy CIB arrested a 51-year-old man after he allegedly made threats made to hurt police officers.

Police say a search of his Googa Creek home police uncovered two pistols and several marijuana plants, which resulted in him being charged with possessing weapons, ammunition, dangerous drugs and utensils, producing the plants, possessing things used in the commission of a drug crime, as well as threatening police.

Two Cherbourg teenagers were arrested and slapped with a combined 29 charges.

A 16-year-old boy who allegedly punched a woman in the face before stealing her handbag and car in the driveway of her Kingaroy home.

A 15-year-old boy was also hit with a stack of 19 charges for alleged break-ins, stolen cars, burglary, wilful damage and stealing.

Both are due to appear in Murgon Children’s Court later this month.

A 17-year-old Cherbourg boy also remains in custody after he was arrested on Wednesday night on two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, burglary and entering a premises with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Police busted a 35-year-old Taabinga man when he was allegedly spotted using a mobile phone while driving down the D’Aguilar Highway, triggering a search of his car where police say they uncovered a cache of five knives, including two hatchets and a machete.

He was arrested and charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, possessing knives in a public place, possessing property suspected of being used in connection with a crime, and failing to properly dispose of a syringe.

Officers also arrested a 28-year-old Cherbourg man who was allegedly spotted in the passenger seat of a stolen car that evaded police at Murgon, which was later linked to a break-in at a Murgon business and attempted break-in at a Tingoora business.

He was charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempting to enter a premises to commit an indictable offence, entering a premises to commit an indictable offence and possessing dangerous drugs.

Darling Downs District Superintendent Danny Shaw said Operation Viper, lead by Murgon Officer-in-Charge Brett Everest, focused on enhancing community safety and enjoyed the full support of the community.

“Our message to those doing the wrong thing is – we will catch up with you and when we do, you will face the consequences of your actions,” Superintendent Shaw said.

“While this phase of the operation had come to a close, police would continue to target property crime in South Burnett and called on the community to continue to partner with police and report all theft or suspicious activity.”