Far North Police have charged more than 180 people with 402 offences during the first month of Operation Yankee Forge.
Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing APM launched Operation Yankee Forge in Cairns on 27 February, continuing the work of local police conducting high-visibility patrols and targeting high harm offending in the region.
The highly visible operation will focus on targeting unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry offences, with officers focused on preventing, disrupting and investigating crime.
Of the offences, there were 85 people charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, 20 charged with robbery and 126 people charged with unlawful entry offences.
On 26 March, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy at an Edmonton bus stop, after he was allegedly involved with several vehicles stolen from Mooroobool, Earlville and Cairns North during March.
He was charged with a total of 14 offences including three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle and two of stealing.
He has been denied bail and appeared before the Cairns Childrens Court on 27 March.
Police charged a 15-year-old Earlville boy and a 13-year-old Manoora boy following the theft of a Subaru Forester from a Whitfield address on the evening of 22 March.
Around 3am on 23 March, officers observed the boys sitting in the vehicle on McCoombe Street.
Both boys were charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and appeared in the Cairns Childrens Court on 25 March.
Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said results from the first month are promising, however police won't take pressure off offenders.
"We are continuing to target anyone causing harm to the community and we want the community to know we will remain committed to ensuring their safety," Detective Inspector Chetham said.
"Our officers will continue disrupting and preventing crime though intelligence-drive, high visibility and covert tactics.
"We are grateful to the community for their continued support in our efforts to disrupt property offending, and remand them to stay alert, report suspicious behaviour and take practical steps to protect their homes and neighbourhoods."
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.
