Eight teenagers and two adults have been charged and seven stolen vehicles recovered, including a black Isuzu MU-X, as part of investigations into a stolen vehicle incident at Garbutt yesterday afternoon, 15 June.
It will be alleged at 1.44pm, a black Isuzu MU-X was parked on a driveway on Sunderland Street, Garbutt.
A woman was near the vehicle, and a baby was secured in a car seat of the vehicle.
It will be alleged, offenders have gotten into the vehicle and drove away, before the car stopped further along Sunderland Street.
The offenders have placed the baby in the car seat on the footpath, before fleeing again.
No one was physically injured during the incident, and the baby was assessed by paramedics as a precaution.
Police arrived a short time later and conducted patrols however failed to locate the vehicle.
With the assistance of POLAIR the Isuzu was located at a carpark on Charters Towers Road around 9.45pm, alongside a white Ford Ranger that was stolen from a Railway Estate address on 14 June.
Upon police arrival the Ford was on engulfed in flames however was extinguished a short time later.
It will be alleged a number of stolen vehicles were observed driving around Townsville overnight.
Police coordinated a tyre deflation device strategy which disabled (5) stolen motor vehicles and resulted in the arrest of ten (10) offenders.
Investigations remain ongoing to confirm the links to the stolen vehicle incident at Garbutt yesterday afternoon. 15 June.
Presently ten offenders have been charged on 19 offences unrelated to the Garbutt incident.
A 17-year-old Oonoonba boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and on count of attempted of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
His bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 16-year-old Wulguru boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
His bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 16-year-old Kirwan boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
His bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 16-year-old Railway Estate boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of enter dwelling and commit and or receiving tainted good.
His bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 21-year-old Rasmussen woman was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
She is expected to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court today, 16 June.
A 18-year-old Deeragun man was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and disqualified driving.
He is expected to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court today, 16 June.
A 17-year-old girl has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Her bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 15-year-old Kelso girl was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Her bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
A 14-year-old Kirwan girl was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He was given bail and is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 19 June.
A 17-year-old Palm Island boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and trespass.
His bail was objected to, and he is expected to appear in the Townsville Childrens Court today, 16 June.
Investigations are ongoing.
Quote these reference numbers: QP2601146515, QP2601136911, QP2601142060
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.
