Seven people charged in Cairns over alleged stolen vehicle spree
Queensland police have released footage capturing the moment they apprehended four teenagers and three adults, the group have since been charged after 16 cars were allegedly stolen in separate thefts across Cairns. Watch the footage here.
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Four teens and three adults have been charged after 16 cars were allegedly stolen in separate thefts across Cairns.
The alleged spree began on Friday night, October 25, when a Toyota LandCruiser Prado was reported stolen from a property on Shaft Street in Edmonton.
The following day, the Prado was spotted travelling in a convoy with two other stolen vehicles, a Mazda station wagon which was allegedly stolen from a Trinity Beach address and a Mitsubishi ASX allegedly stolen from a Paramatta Park.
Both vehicles were reported stolen to authorities on Saturday, October 26.
Police tracked the stolen Prado to Ray Jones Drive in Woree using a Polair surveillance helicopter, where they deployed a tyre deflation device.
Despite this tactic to stop the vehicle, it continued driving until it was ultimately abandoned on Progress Road in White Rock.
Five individuals reportedly fled on foot but were apprehended by police a short time later.
Among those charged is an 18-year-old man accused of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, a 19-year-old man from Edmonton facing charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, and common assault, and a 22-year-old man also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
All three men had their bail objected to and are due to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday, October 28.
In addition, three teenagers, two 15-year-old-boys and a 14-year-old boy are facing multiple charges, including unlawful use of motor vehicles and attempted burglary.
The 15-year-old boy from White Rock was also charged with breach of bail offences, while the 15-year-old from Mooroobool was charged with unlawful use of motor vehicle, stealing, enter dwelling and commit indictable offence.
A 16-year-old girl was also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
All four teenagers had their bail objected to and are due to appear at Cairns Children’s Court on Monday.
While police continue to investigate the incident, all stolen vehicles have been recovered in the Cairns area.
A police spokeswoman for Queensland police said 16 cars in total were stolen in the Cairns region across the weekend.
“Investigations are still ongoing into all the thefts,” she said.
It comes after a separate car theft of a Toyota Prado from Holloways Beach, in the early hours of Friday morning, October 25.
A 15-year-old Yarrabah boy and a 15-year-old Hudson boy have both been charged after being located by officers in a stormwater drain near Denver Street, White Rock.
Officers located the two boys in the stormwater drain after the police helicopter monitoring the car witnessed the pair exiting the Prado just after 3pm on the same day.
Police will allege the boys have been involved in a multitude of break-ins over the past week and a half where multiple vehicles were stolen.
“Investigations are still ongoing as to others involved who stole a Toyota Prado from a Holloways Beach,” a spokeswoman for Queensland Police said.
The 15-year-old from Yarrabah has been charged with two counts of enter dwelling, three of unlawful use of motor vehicle, and one of stealing.
In addition, the 15-year-old boy from Hudson has been charged with three counts of enter dwelling, four of unlawful use of motor vehicle, and one of stealing.
Both appeared before Cairns Children's Court on Saturday morning, October 26 and were remanded in custody, to reappear at a later date.
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Originally published as Seven people charged in Cairns over alleged stolen vehicle spree
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