Cairns MPs have responded after the latest alleged brazen act of youth crime rocks local businesses

Cairns police have arrested two 17-year-old boys after a $2.4m crane was allegedly extensively damaged and footage uploaded to social media.

Cairns police have arrested two 17-year-old boys in relation to two incidents in Gordonvale where plant equipment, including an excavator and a $2.4m crane, were extensively damaged.

Police will allege the pair damaged equipment parked in the vicinity of the Bruce Highway and uploaded footage of the incident to social media.

The two youths are alleged to have filmed themselves smashing, spray painting, setting off fire extinguishers and lighting fires which destroyed a $2.4m crane owned and operated by local family-owned and run business Century Cranes on January 28.

On Tuesday Cairns Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said they had arrested two 17-year-old males in relation to the destruction of equipment.

“One youth has been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act,” he said.

“The other youth has been charged with two counts of causing wilful damage and has been bailed to appear at Cairns Children’s Court at a later date.”

Government MPs have responded after this latest brazen criminal act and said youth criminals were “on notice”.

But it appears vandals and car thieves have not got the memo, with wanton acts of crime repeatedly splashed across the internet over social media.

The fire extinguisher was smashed through the front windscreen. Picture: Supplied.

The MPs were appalled the attack was also directed on a second excavator owned by Advanced Civil Earthworks and worth $500,000, which was extensively damaged.

The crane owners confronted the alleged offenders who then allegedly taunted them.

A fire extinguisher was sprayed throughout the cabin causing damage to electrical equipment. Picture: Supplied

In a joint statement, Cairns MP Michael Healy, Barron River MP Craig Crawford, Cook MP Cynthia Lui and the Speaker of parliament and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt condemned the alleged criminal damage and impact on local family-owned businesses.

“We have to be careful not to prejudice any police action or judicial process to hold the alleged offenders to account,’’ the FNQ Labor MPs said.

A 20 tonne excavator owned and operated by Advanced Civil Earthworks Cairns was also destroyed by the remorseless vandals. Picture: Supplied

“But like many in our community, we are appalled by reports of senseless and wanton acts of alleged vandalism and destruction of property.

“Equally concerning is the brazen way the offenders allegedly filmed the attack, boasted on social media of their exploits, and taunted their victims.

“Every crime has a ripple effect in the community, and the potential impact of this on two family-owned businesses and various building projects in Cairns is obvious.”

They said it begged the question: “Why would anyone do this?”

“In December, the Premier announced a raft of changes with tough new laws to combat youth crime,” they said.

“Young offenders are on notice, if they do the crime, they will pay the consequences.”

One of the inclusions within those changes were increased penalties for criminals who have boasted about these crimes on social media, however it is unclear how these laws will be applied to instances outside of car theft such as vandalism.

The youths allegedly posted on social media.

Back in November last year Queensland Police Youth Justice Task Force Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon highlighted the growing intersection of crime and the use of social media while speaking in Cairns.

“We know such activities are being posted to facilitate notoriety, to encourage others to engage in criminal activities, and to facilitate further crime and compete with other criminals,” Ms Scanlon said, speaking generally.

“We will be moving to disrupt and have accounts shut down.”

Investigators urge anyone with relevant information or dashcam footage from the Bruce Highway or Maitland Road at Gordonvale to contact police.

Originally published as Cairns MPs have responded after the latest alleged brazen act of youth crime rocks local businesses