Vandals leave trail of destruction in stolen boat joy ride
A trail of destruction caused by a joy ride in a stolen boat was the end result of a late night raid on another Cairns business, as details emerge about fast tracking of tough new youth crime laws.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The smashing of an ice-cream freezer and a trail of destruction caused by joy ride in a stolen boat was the result of a late night raid on another Cairns business, in a crime wave showing no signs of slowing in 2023.
Last year a record car theft tally of 1299 was recorded in an astonishing 66 per cent increase on the 782 vehicles ripped off in 2021.
New year stolen car numbers reveal 60 vehicles have already been taken unlawfully this year and 272 unlawful entry charges have been laid by police in the past 30 days.
Other property damage crimes totalled 145 offences between January 4 and February 3.
A total of 4689 unlawful entry offences have been logged in the past 12 months accounting for a 58 per cent increase in the previous 12 month period when police laid 2965 charges.
In response to skyrocketing crime throughout the state, new laws cracking down on youth crime are expected to be discussed during the first sitting of parliament for the year beginning on February 21.
It’s understood a new bill could sidestep the usual parliamentary committee process and be made law before the end of February under a standing order special provision.
And it can’t come soon enough for Cairns Wake Park co-owner Lauren Homer.
On Wednesday night Ms Homer’s Smithfield business was targeted by vandals for the second time in as many months.
“If it happened to (our politicians) they would probably work a bit harder to fix it, you work so hard to provide for your family and this is just heartbreaking,” she said.
“The word is disappointing and frustrating, because nothing is happening to them. I had two family cars stolen in one night, so pi--sed off is the word, police are doing their job but the system behind it is not working.
“They just go out and reoffend.”
Thousands of dollars will need to be spent on repairs to inflatable obstacles punctured by the propeller of a rescue boat youths allegedly took for a joy ride around the lake.
Business owners plan to further upgrade security and have lost a full day’s work cleaning up, in a cost that adds to the mounting financial burden brought by senseless youth crime.
“They took it for a spin and took it through barriers and obstacles and the prop damaged our inflatable. Those things are thousands of dollars and they damaged obstacles. There is a big hole in one of them,” Ms Homer said.
“They didn’t steal anything else, just the ice creams and before that they did they caused damage around the park.
“It’s becoming beyond a joke.”
According to police no arrests have been made in relation to the alleged Cairns wake park break in and investigations are ongoing.
“Initial investigations indicate that a number of people have gained entry to the business and stole food items,” a spokeswoman said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
More Coverage
Originally published as Vandals leave trail of destruction in stolen boat joy ride
Police station sale sparks discussion over Gordonvale’s future
Claims a historic building was sold from under the noses of a Far North community group have been rebuffed by Labor, with calls to rejuvenate a beloved town square emerging as a key election issue.
‘Ridiculous thing’: LNP candidate dodges abortion, VAD questions
Far North voters are more concerned with crime, cost of living and housing than changes to abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws, the LNP’s candidate for Barron River Bree James says.