Residents pick up the pieces after vehicle rams bins and signage in multiple suburbs

Townsville residents are picking up the pieces after stolen vehicles went on a multi-suburb rampage ramming bins, signage and a taxi. Read the latest.

Several streets in Kirwan have had signage and bins destroyed by an allegedly stolen vehicle. Picture: Supplied.

Townsville residents have been left to pick up the pieces following another night of stolen vehicle carnage where street signage and wheelie bins were destroyed in multiple suburbs overnight.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed that two stolen vehicles, a Landcruiser and a Navara, appeared to be the main offending vehicles causing damage to property across the district.

They were also involved in the alleged ramming of a taxi, which didn’t have any passengers at the time, and sustained minimal damage.

“The Landcruiser was recovered a short time later and the Navara is still outstanding,” the spokeswoman said.

“All incidents are currently under investigation. There are not currently any arrests made in relation to specifically last night.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Watts told gathered media that these were the actions of a few individuals.

Signage and bins destroyed on Lomond St, Kirwan. Picture: Supplied.

Signage was destroyed in Kirwan overnight. Picture: Supplied.

“Once we get those individuals into custody, then this type of behaviour will stop,” Detective Watts said.

“Unfortunately, in Townsville, this does occur from time to time. But we’d just like for the public to know that the police are out there conducting patrols and targeting offenders.

“If they do engage with these offenders, call the police and don’t try and intercept them. Our priority is community safety.”

He said investigators from Brisbane-based Taskforce Guardian were currently deployed in Townsville to back up local law enforcement officers, while the police helicopter continued to play a game-changing role.

“It’s critical to what we do and it’s a real benefit to the police in the community to have that asset available to us,” he said.

Residents took to social media to share reports of the rampage, with one person saying on Monday night that she had been driving through Vincent when she heard some metal banging over and over.

“A dark Pajero type of car was heading in my direction but running over all the road signs right outside Pizza Riviera, mounted the traffic island and then kept running over the signs, missed my car by a few metres, then went into the my lane behind my car, and continued driving on the wrong side of the road,” she said.

“Honestly this town is getting nuts.”

Signage and bins destroyed on Lomond St, Kirwan. Picture: Supplied.

Signage and bins destroyed on Lomond St, Kirwan. Picture: Supplied.

Another resident said a few bins were “obliterated” on one side of Hudson St, across the road from him, about 12.45am on Tuesday.

“Garbage all over the place. Sounded like a car crash. Not long a police van sped past. Assuming they’re following a trail of destruction caused by Kirwan’s finest,” he said.

Another woman said residents along Hudson St would be waking up to find their bins “absolutely smashed to pieces and rubbish everywhere along the footpath and roads”.

“Sorry to inform you of this if you didn’t know already, it’s a mess,” she said.

Images were shared of signage and bins smashed along Kirwan’s Lomond St, with other residents claiming that Avon Ave and Greenwood Drive were also impacted.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Originally published as Residents pick up the pieces after vehicle rams bins and signage in multiple suburbs