Police investigating a series of car thefts and property offences in Central and North Queensland in the past week have arrested a 15-year-old girl near Townsville this morning, Queensland Police say.
Around 10am three stolen vehicles were travelling together north on the Bruce Highway south of Townsville when one of them, a white Holden SUV, left the roadway at Alligator Creek in an attempt to avoid a tyre deflation device police had deployed.
A 15-year-old girl, the alleged driver of the vehicle, was uninjured and arrested at the scene.
Heat from the engine of the vehicle is believed to have then caused a grass fire which subsequently engulfed the vehicle.
The other two vehicles, a gold 2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV and an aqua 2012 Subaru XV SUV evaded police and were last seen travelling north to Townsville.
The Mazda CX5 was stolen from a North Mackay residence around 10.30pm while the other two vehicles were stolen from residences in Bowen early this morning.
Detectives believe the group involved in today’s incidents are connected to a series of recent car thefts in Cairns and also the theft of a grey 2017 Toyota Hilux utility from Townsville on Sunday. The utility remains outstanding and is believed to be in the North Mackay area.
Police are urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen vehicles to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
