Juvenile criminals make 140+ break-in attempts in a week

Police have worryingly told Townsville’s ruthless juvenile criminals have turned their attention to some of the city’s most vulnerable, targeting aged care villages.

Police admit they are battling a surge in juvenile crime after more than 140 break and enter attempts and 32 cars stolen.

It comes as the city’s juvenile criminals turn their attention to some of the most vulnerable, targeting aged care villages.

One Child Protection Investigation Unit detective told the Bulletin there was “a cohort of about 60 juveniles” committing a majority of the crimes.

Country Patrol Group Inspector Damian Irvine said police were battling a surge in crime, after more than 140 break and enter or attempts were reported to police in the last week, while 32 cars were stolen.

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An aged care home on Lindeman Ave, Cranbrook was the most recent to be targeted by children known to police, who broke into a number of units looking for car keys.

“The majority of these break-ins are being done for one reason, and one reason only and that is to secure a car and joy ride around town,” Insp Irvine said.

“There was one elderly gentlemen – they stole his insulin and then walked outside and realised it was of no value to them and so smashed it on the ground. We’re dealing with kids with no respect for anyone or anything.

“The local police, we’re doing the best we can with the numbers we’ve got — it’s the actual offences that are hurting us at the moment,” Irvine said.

“We’re currently analysing what the crime is, where it’s happening and realigning our rosters and staffing to try and bolster numbers at the peak periods.”

Insp Irvine said aged care facilities and apartment blocks presented thieves “bigger capture groups” and warned people to hide their keys.

Arrest rates have been high following the launch of Operation Romeo Seville with 327 people arrested on 1247 charges.

The operation started in October last year after a group of teens stole a number of cars and recklessly drove through the streets of Townsville, requiring the Queensland Government Air rescue helicopter to track them from the skies – locking down the city’s airspace.

Townsville Child Protection Investigation Unit detective Senior Sergeant David Miles said there was “a cohort of about 60 juveniles” committing a majority of the crimes.

He said offences ranged from shop thefts to armed robberies and joy-riding around the city.

Originally published as Juvenile criminals make 140+ break-in attempts in a week