‘Marauding’ teens in fresh spate of CBD ‘madness’
Marauding teens branded “untouchables” by the Opposition leader have struck again in the CBD to allegedly rip-off cash and top shelf booze from an Esplanade restaurant.
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Marauding teens branded “untouchables” by the Opposition leader have struck again in the CBD to allegedly rip-off cash and booze from an Esplanade restaurant.
Police allege two boys jimmied a window to gain access to Lemoncello’s Cairns before raiding the cash register and handing bottles of top shelf liquor to mates waiting outside.
The early morning Tuesday raid was captured on CCTV which led to the arrest on Wednesday of 13-year-old Cairns North boy and a 17-year-old Cairns boy was charged on Thursday.
A frustrated Lemoncello’s chef Lorenzo Lallemand said when he spotted the kids on the street the next day, identified from security vision, he had to fight the urge to take matters into his own hands.
“It was hard to stop myself from actually grabbing them myself and holding them myself until the authorities came,” he said.
“But again, I’ve got no power to do that. I would have ended up with a charge myself.”
Police have alleged the group also damaged property, broke into a Lake St hotel room and threw rocks and sticks at the premises on Tuesday.
The latest break-in follows two raids on Aplin Streets Cold Rock Ice Creamery in recent weeks and a government building fronting the Shields St mall that had windows smashed on Thursday night.
Asked if the business had considered relocating amid escalating crime in the CBD Mr Lallemand was defiant.
“Definitely not,” he said.
“We’re not easily deterred, and I think one way or another the public will get together eventually and there’ll be no stopping the public from standing up for themselves.”
Lemoncello’s is a favourite haunt of Opposition Leader Opposition leader David Crisafulli when in town.
He used the CBD burglary to push for greater sentencing options for young offenders and funding of early intervention programs that can prove successful outcomes for kids heading down the wrong path.
”(We have a) homegrown generation of untouchables, in their eyes that know their rights are greater than the rights of victims, and until you embed consequences for actions and unshackled the judiciary and remove detention as a last resort this marauding madness will continue,” he said
Mr Crisafulli said the LNP had written to the Auditor General seeking a breakdown on youth intervention programs.
We want to know what’s happening at the moment that’s not working,” he said.
“And where can we look and find the best across the globe to turn kids around before they’re holding knifes and ramming police cars.”
The 13-year-old alleged to be behind the Lemoncello’s burglary was charged with seven counts of enter premises, and one count each of trespass, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and animal cruelty.
And the 17-year-old Cairns boy was charged with one count of enter premise and commit after being arrested on Thursday.
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