Kid busted after alleged rip-off of mini-van fleet and bottle-o theft
Cairns’ oldest scuba diving business has been the target of an audacious break-in and theft of three company vans that were later used in the looting of top shelf liquor from an Edge Hill bottle shop.
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Cairns’ oldest scuba diving business has been the target of an audacious break-in and theft of three company vans that were later used in the looting of top shelf liquor from an Edge Hill bottle shop.
Police allege in the early hours of September 14 a group managed to break into the Diver’s Den business on Draper St before making off with three vans and laptops.
The convoy of stolen vans, according to police, drove to the Edge Hill Liquorland where they allegedly broke through the shopfront and loaded the vans with a large quantity of alcohol.
It’s understood the group preferenced spirits and made off with hundreds of dollars worth of booze.
Just this week the scuba diving school celebrated its 50th year in business after being founded in 1974.
The Parramatta Park dive school is a subsidiary of the Entrada Travel Group.
The group’s Chief operating officer Genevieve Wardleworth said the theft of the Diver’s Den mini-van fleet was disappointing.
“‘Following a week of celebrations for Divers Den’s 50th anniversary, during which we reflected on our many achievements and fond memories, we were dismayed to discover that over the weekend our offices were broken into, keys and vans stolen, and property damaged,” she said.
“While we are deeply concerned by this event, we are grateful that no one was injured, and we appreciate the swift action by the police.’’
Later on Saturday police caught up with one alleged offender at a Cracknell Road address in White Rock.
Officers took a 16-year-old boy into custody and charged him with three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle, two counts of enter premises by break and one of receiving tainted property.
He was refused bail and appeared before Cairns Childrens Court on Monday, September 16.
The three stolen vans have been included in the September stolen car tally which on Monday amounted to 54.
On average this 3.3 cars a day have been stolen during September, with the bulk stolen earlier this month.
During the first five days of September, 19 vehicles were ripped off between Gordonvale and Palm Cove, which pushed up the stolen car average to almost four cars a day.
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