Three teenagers and a man have been charged following a two-day Operation targeting property crime and stolen vehicles across Murgon, Wondai and Cherbourg.
Between April 11 and 12 an additional 14 officers were deployed as part of Operation Martello II which involved a rapid surge to target offending and bolster policing capabilities across the South Burnett region.
At 3.07am on 11 April police received reports of an unknown number of people walking along South Street in Wondai, allegedly attempting to break into cars.
It is alleged the same group then broke into a property on Grant Street and threatened the occupants before stealing a Hyundai Tucson and a Kia Sportage.
Following further attempted burglaries on Scott Street in Wondai and Heading Street in Murgon, it is alleged the offenders continued to travel through the Cherbourg area in the stolen cars along with a white Toyota Landcruiser.
The Hyundai was later located around 5:25am at the intersection of Bell Street and Broadway Street after allegedly being set on fire and the Kia was recovered abandoned by police on Fisher Street.
The Toyota Landcruiser, reported stolen from a property in Moffatdale at 11.50pm on 10 April, was located near Cherbourg cemetery.
Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, have been charged with a range of offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises with intent, armed robbery, evade police, stealing, attempted enter premises and wilful damage.
All three have been refused police bail to appear in the Kingaroy Children's Court today, 13 April.
An 18-year-old man will appear in Murgon Magistrates Court on April 22 charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing.
Operation Martello II saw officers from the Toowoomba Highway Patrol Unit and Darling Downs District Tactical Crime Squad working alongside local officers and detectives from the Murgon Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) to conduct increased high visibility patrols around Cherbourg and surrounding areas.
Detectives are appealing to any residents or drivers in the vicinity of these incidents who may have CCTV, dashcam or information, not yet provided, to contact police.
Investigations continue.
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.
