Townsville police helecopter deployed to Cairns
A police helicopter has been called in to assist Cairns officers overwhelmed by a spike in house breaks and motor vehicle theft.
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A police helicopter has been called in to assist Cairns officers overwhelmed by a spike in house breaks and motor vehicle theft.
Appearing in the skies above Cairns on Thursday the airborne law enforcement asset is on loan from Townsville.
On Friday morning the Townsville police helicopter flew circles over the CBD and later moved west tracking a stolen vehicle that was later understood to have crashed on Mulgrave Rd.
Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said information about the location of stolen vehicles discovered by the helicopter crew had already led to the officers on the ground making arrests.
“It has been effective in taking another outstanding vehicle and offenders have been arrested and charged,” he said.
“Certainly its tremendous asset from a broad range of policing perspectives including the policing of property crime and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
“We have recognised a spike in the number of unlawful entry offences and through consultation with the Townsville district we were able to get that helicopter deployed to the Cairns area.
“I think it’s a very sound arrangement at the present time and we do have that flexibility to call on those resources to support the actions of police.”s
On Thursday the Townsville police helicopter was used to hunt down a 20-year-old Bentley Park man alleged to have stolen a Toyota Corolla from the carpark of a Sheridan St on Wednesday.
Members of the public also assisted officers to locate the man at a house on Travolta Close, White Rock, who was taken into custody and charged with unlawful use of motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, and failing to appear.
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