Townsville police give update following four alleged carjacking attempts by same group of juveniles on Mother’s Day

Townsville police give update following an alleged carjacking spree in which a group of juveniles were involved in four incidents over less than half an hour

This VW Tiguan was stolen from a Mysterton home on Thursday night, and was found on fire Sunday morning.

Police are still searching for a group of juveniles after a serious of alleged attempted and successful carjackings in less than half an hour on Mother’s Day.

Townsville police say they are currently seeking a group of around six juveniles who were allegedly involved in the series of offences, first driving in a white Prado and a white Mitsubishi Outlander.

One member of the group, a 13-year-old-boy, was arrested on Sunday.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Fred Starr said the first, group allegedly stopped a woman in her car on Hugh and Palmerston Street.

“They have approached her and tried to get her out of the car and get the keys,” he said.

“At that particular time they all jumped in, but were disturbed by police and jumped into another car and fled. Police were able to catch one of them.”

Detective Starr said the second alleged attack was only three minutes later at Kings Road and Woolcock Street near CastleTown Shopping Centre.

This VW Tiguan was stolen from a Mysteron home on Thursday night, and was found on fire Sunday morning.

“Three of them have approached a lady that stopped at the lights and tried to get into her car,” he said.

The woman’s car was locked and the alleged offenders weren’t able to get in.

A prado was dumped on Paskin Street, Vincent.

The third incident occurred at 11:28 at Elizabeth Street and Ross River Road, where the group allegedly pulled a woman from her car and tried to cut her seatbelt with an edged weapon. As a result the woman received injuries to her thumb and left forearm.

“Again, they were disturbed by police and jumped back into the LandCrusier and left the scene in a hurry,” Detective Starr said.

“During that time police stung two vehicles, they jumped out of those cars into a third vehicle and fled.”

The fourth incident happened at 11:30am in Vincent. The group allegedly approached another vehicle and again tried to cut the seatbelt with a different weapon.

“They have again cut the seatbelt with a large knife this time, a different description to the edged weapon used in the earlier incident,” Detective Starr said.

This VW Tiguan was stolen from a Mysteron home on Thursday night, and was found on fire Sunday morning.

The woman was allegedly pulled from her Hyundai i30, hitting her head on the ground and the group fled in the car.

Both women injured in the separate attacks have been released from hospital.

“They are okay, but shocked and upset,” Detective Starr said.

Police say they known the names of the individuals involved and are looking for them.

“Investigations have led to the identity of some of those people. We are actively trying to find them and I’m sure people know who they are,” Detective Starr said.

“They are carrying weapons, no matter what their age is you have to consider them dangerous.”

Detective Starr urged the community to remain vigilant and prioritise their safety when driving.

“When you stop at the traffic lights look around, be aware and see what's coming,” he said.

“This is community safety issue. I know a lot of people come back and say why should we have to drive around with our car doors locked. It shows that if you lock your car there is a possibility that you may stop an offence.”

He said that anyone who finds themselves in an attempted carjacking situation should ‘step aside’.

“Your safety is a priority over property.”

Townsville police have urged anyone with information to come forward or to contact Crime Stoppers.

Teen arrested, two in hospital

Townsville police are investigating multiple property and dangerous driving offences today, with at least one person taken to hospital.

About 7.10am Sunday morning, police were called to an alleged stolen car fire involving a Volkswagen at Harold Phillips Park on Hugh St, Garbutt. Police say a motorcyclist arrived to assist but he was then allegedly driven at dangerously by people in two other vehicles that had been parked nearby.

The man took evasive action but sustained minor injuries, and the people in the other vehicles allegedly drove off. QPS deployed multiple resources including the police helicopter, Rapid Action Patrol, Tactical Crime Squad and general duties officers, to track the vehicles.

A prado was dumped on Paskin Street, Vincent.

The same vehicles - a white Prado and a white Mitsubishi Outlander - were then spotted travelling in convoy and allegedly driving dangerously.

Police successfully deployed stringers in Kirwan about 11am.

Within an hour, the group has then allegedly committed three attempted armed robberies with a knife on Hugh and Woolcock Street in Pimlico, and Elizabeth Street in Aitkenvale.

The group has then allegedly committed three attempted armed robberies in the next hour, before stealing a white Hyundai i30 on Paskin Street, Vincent and fleeing.

Queensland Ambulance Service said they took a woman in her 50s to Townsville University Hospital with a minor head injury.

Another woman also received non-life-threatening injuries during the Aitkenvale incident.

Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy, and investigations are ongoing into the remaining offenders.

Anyone with information that could assist with investigations, including any dashcam or CCTV, is urged to contact police.

Stolen Isuzu

The owner of a stolen Isuzu MU-X says her vehicle is now a complete write-off after it crashed in Home Hill.

The Isuzu was stolen from her Kirwan home at 9.30pm on Wednesday, May 8, and its wild ride was only brought to a stop by a power pole.

Queensland Police have confirmed their officers were called to a single-vehicle crash involving the Isuzu on Fifth Ave, Home Hill around 10am, yesterday.

According to police, the adult driver of the car left the scene on foot.

“A man was located a short distance away and taken into custody,” a police spokesperson said.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

The man has taken into custody overnight. No charges have been laid.

VW on fire

Dramatic pictures of a woman’s pride and joy on fire outside the Castle Hill PCYC have appeared.

The owner said her Mysterton home was broken into on Thursday night and her white VW Tiguan stolen.

On Sunday morning she finally located her car - only, it was now a burnout wreck.

This VW Tiguan was stolen from a Mysterton home on Thursday night, and was found on fire Sunday morning.

Police say a vehicle fire was reported at William St and Bundock St about 7am Sunday morning.

Truck rollover

All occupants of a truck that rolled over on a busy Currajong street are safe and unharmed.

Around 6.15pm on Saturday night police were called to a single-vehicle incident involving a truck rollover.

Initial reports from witnesses had the incident on Hammett St, but police records pinpoint the rollover to the intersection of Cooper and McLeod St near the Currajong Mini Mart.

Police say they are still investigating how the rollover occurred.

Woolcock St crash

One stable patient has been transported to Townsville University Hospital following a single-vehicle crash on Woolcock St in Mount Louisa at 11.56pm on Saturday night, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Police confirmed they also attended the job but said it was “very minor”.

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Originally published as Townsville police give update following four alleged carjacking attempts by same group of juveniles on Mother’s Day