Police Dog Duke spent the last week tracking down several property crime offenders alongside POLAIR, Tactical Crime Squad, Property Crime Squad, and General Duties, as Operation Yankee Forge continues to target high-harm offenders in the Far North.
Since 27 February, Far North Police have charged 380 people with 905 offences, including 188 young people with 563 offences and 193 adults with 342 offences.
Around 10pm on 9 May, PD Duke and Tactical Crime Squad officers tracked four teenagers after they allegedly fled from a stolen Volkswagen Golf on Bathurst Street.
Two 16-year-old boys, a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were located hiding nearby a short time later.
All four have been charged with one count of unlawful use of motor vehicle from this incident.
The 19-year-old has also been charged with an additional count of unlawful use of motor vehicle and stealing in relation to incidents in the last week.
All four were refused bail and were due to appear before the Cairns Childrens and Magistrates Courts on 11 May.
On 10 May, PD Duke tracked a14-year-old Edmonton boy after he allegedly fled from a stolen Mazda BT-50.
The boy was located in a front yard on Moth Close and taken into custody.
He was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 13 May.
Operation Yankee Forge is a six-month, district-led, statewide initiative targeting high-harm and high-volume offences, including unlawful use of motor vehicles, unlawful entry and robbery.
The operation will enhance policing activities across Queensland to reduce victim numbers and strengthen community safety.
Police regions, supported by specialist squads, will undertake coordinated disruption activities across the state. Police will target high-harm offenders and work closely with partner agencies to ensure offenders are held accountable. With a strong focus on crime prevention, police will be highly visible as they prevent, disrupt and investigate offending, with particular emphasis on unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry.
The operation will be locally led and centrally coordinated, leveraging the knowledge and experience of officers who know their communities best.
