Police from the Far North District supported by officers from the State Flying Squad have charged 146 people with 496 offences during a seven-day deployment to Cairns.
Between May 8 and 15, the State Flying Squad was deployed to Cairns to support the Cairns Property Crime Unit, the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Cairns Tactical Crime Squad and Cairns General Duties police to target property offenders and disrupt, deter and prevent offending.
Police conducted high-visibility patrols, targeted investigations, street checks, bail checks and executed arrest warrants.
86 young people were charged with offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises and commit and stealing.
Around 11am on May 11, officers from the Cairns Tactical Crime Squad deployed a tyre deflation device on a Toyota Hilux allegedly stolen from an Aeroglen property on May 1.
Both front tyres came off the vehicle with the man allegedly continuing to drive the vehicle on rims only along the Captain Cook Highway at speeds exceeding 100km/hr.
The vehicle continued into Holloways Beach where the man allegedly dumped the vehicle and attempted to flee before being apprehended by officers.
He was charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle with prior conviction, unlawful use of motor vehicle, drug driving, and unlicensed driving.
He was refused bail and was due to appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court on May 13.
On May 15, police were executing an arrest warrant after a 27-year-old Edmonton man allegedly failed to appear in the Cairns Magistrate Court on several matters.
Around 11.20am, police observed the man riding a bicycle on Mulgrave Road, when the man fled on foot, into oncoming traffic.
The man allegedly hid in a nearby house before he was arrested in a shopping centre carpark.
He was taken into custody and charged with one count each of stealing, obstruct police officers and two counts of failure to appear.
He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today, May 16.
Since April, police have charged 505 people with 1568 offences as part of State Flying Squad deployments to the Far North.
Far North District Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said the State Flying Squad is a valuable addition to local officers cracking down on crime in the region.
"This surge capacity allows us to target high-risk offenders, and deploy officers to hotspot areas as required," Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said.
"Our top priority is ensuring the community is, and feels safe, and we are continuing to take a zero-tolerance approach to serious repeat offenders causing harm.
"We look forward to future deployments to the Far North."
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.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
