The Far North District is targeting high-harm offenders as a locally led property crime crackdown continues across the region.
Officers have charged 676 people with 1869 offences since Operation Yankee Forge launched in February.
Of those charged, 308 are young people and 368 are adults.
On 12 August, police arrested a 16-year-old Holloways Beach boy after he allegedly stole property from several addresses and threatened a security officer with a knife.
He was arrested inside a shipping container on Spence Street and charged with three counts of stealing, two counts of possess knife in public and one count of enter dwelling and commit.
Police bail was refused, and he appeared in the Cairns Children's Court on 13 August.
On 4 August, an 18-year-old man was arrested after officers located him in the stairwell of a Pease Street unit complex.
It will be alleged he had attempted to break into three homes just before midnight.
He was charged with three counts of attempted enter dwelling at night and was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on 7 September.
Far North District Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said while the district is seeing a slight downturn in property offending, there's more work to be done.
"For members of our community to have their vehicles and property stolen, and their homes invaded is completely unacceptable," Chief Superintendent Fitzgibbon said.
"I understand the community's concerns around safety and want Far Northerners to know that we are deploying every available resource and utilising every tactic available to disrupt and prevent criminal activity.
"Offenders can be certain that if they find it acceptable to commit property offences, we will find them and put them before the court."
Between 27 February and 13 August:
- Offenders: 676
- Charges: 1869
- Adult offenders: 368
- Adult charges: 689
- Juvenile offenders: 308
- Juvenile charges: 1180
Adult offences
- Adult robbery offenders: 39
- Adult robbery charges: 50
- Adult unlawful entry offenders: 261
- Adult unlawful entry charges: 453
- Adult unlawful use of motor vehicle offenders: 138
- Adult unlawful use of motor vehicle charges: 186
Juvenile offences
- Juvenile robbery offenders: 52
- Juvenile robbery charges: 73
- Juvenile unlawful entry offenders: 223
- Juvenile unlawful entry charges: 711
- Juvenile unlawful use of motor vehicle offenders: 176
- Juvenile unlawful use of motor vehicle charged: 396
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.
