Two cars go up in flames at Kingaroy, Qld on New Year’s Day

Four teenagers have been charged after the South Burnett region was rocked by a spate of holiday crimes as the region’s MP and Attorney General speaks out. DETAILS.

Car fire at Kingaroy in the early hours of January 1, 2025. Picture: Facebook, Blake Wills.

Four teenagers have been charged with a spate of property offences in the South Burnett.

It comes after New Year’s Day started in shocking fashion at Kingaroy with two cars torched in “suspicious” fires in the centre of the South Burnett town only minutes apart.

Police will allege that between December 31 and January 1, several properties were broken into at Murgon, Kingaroy, and Cherbourg, where several items were stolen.

About 3.53am on January 1, it will be alleged three stolen vehicles – a Nissan Dualis, a Mitsubishi ASX, and a Mazda CX-5 – attended a Youngman Street petrol station in Kingaroy where a shop attendant was threatened, and items stolen from the business.

These three vehicles were allegedly stolen from a number of addresses across Kingaroy in the hours prior to the petrol station robbery on January 1.

The Mazda CX-5 was later found abandoned in Cherbourg and the Nissan Dualis was found burnt out near Cemetery Road at Cherbourg.

As part of ongoing inquiries police also investigated a SSANGYONG Y400 that was allegedly stolen from a Kingaroy address and a Holden Commodore that was allegedly stolen from a Murgon address.

Car fire at Kingaroy in the early hours of January 1, 2025. Picture: Facebook, Blake Wills.

Car fire at Kingaroy in the early hours of January 1, 2025. Picture: Facebook, Smmer Lee.

Both of these vehicles were later located burnt out near Haly Street at Kingaroy.

Fireys were called out to the burning vehicles, one at Haly St near the Kingaroy Hotel and the other nearby at First Ave, shortly before 3am.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said no occupants of either vehicle, which were about 150m apart, were found nearby.

The two fires were extinguished by 3.10am.

In a statement on Thursday, the Queensland Police Service said extensive investigations by detectives from the Kingaroy and Murgon Criminal Investigation Branches resulted in four youths being taken into custody at various addresses in Cherbourg on January 1.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with eight charges including two counts of armed robbery, and one count each of enter dwelling with intent, unauthorised use of a motor vehicle; enter dwelling with intent, attempted armed robbery, obstruct police officer, and trespass.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with 11 charges including four counts of breach bail, two counts each of enter premises with intent and wilful damage, and one count each of enter dwelling with intent, common assault, and unauthorised use of a motor vehicle.

Another 15-year-old boy has been charged with 11 charges including two counts each of armed robbery, unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, stealing, and one count each of enter dwelling with intent, attempted robbery, arson, obstruct police officer, and threats.

And a 14-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, and one count of enter dwelling wit intent.

All are expected to appear before Caboolture Children's Court on January 2.

“Police would like to thank the community for their assistance and information which led to the apprehension of those involved and are still canvassing the areas for relevant CCTV,” the statement read.

“Investigations are ongoing”.

It comes after Nanango MP and recently appointed Attorney General Deb Frecklington said she was working with authorities in response to the recent crime wave.

“I am well aware of the criminal activity happening across the South Burnett,” she told her 55,000 Facebook followers on Wednesday.

“Please remember that social media is not the appropriate platform for reporting crime. If you witness or have information about illegal activity, report it directly to the police.

“I am actively working with law enforcement to ensure consequences for these actions.

“Under the new ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ laws, offenders will face appropriate consequences, but it will take time for cases to progress through the court system before sentencing occurs.”

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Originally published as Two cars go up in flames at Kingaroy, Qld on New Year’s Day