Kingaroy police have charged four men and a woman with a combined total of 69 charges following a number of property and vehicle thefts across the Darling Downs and South West Districts.
On April 30, detectives were called to a Memerambi-Barkers Creek Road property at Memerambi where they located a 36-year-old Blackbutt man riding a stolen quad bike.
Police commenced a search of the property and adjacent state forest locating a second stolen quad bike and a stolen caravan at a campsite.
It is alleged the caravan was stolen from a Winya Road address in Kilcoy on April 25.
On the same day, officers tracked a stolen a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser from Chinchilla to a Candello Close address in Kingaroy, where they allegedly located a stolen firearm, ammunition, a quantity of methamphetamine and several items of stolen property including tools.
A 26-year-old Chinchilla man and a 23-year-old Kingaroy woman were arrested and taken into custody.
Following further investigations, on May 6 detectives tracked a second stolen vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Landcruiser utility from Chahpingah to a Wilsonton business on Taylor Street where a second stolen firearm, ammunition, property and drugs were allegedly located following a search of the vehicle.
It is alleged the two quad bikes, firearm, ammunition, and tools including a chainsaw were stolen from Clarke's Rd address in Marmadua on April 24, and the second recovered firearm stolen from a Bushgrove School Road address in Cooranga on March 16.
Police believe additional property uncovered from the vehicle was allegedly stolen from several properties across the Darling Downs and South West Districts between March and May this year.
A 36-year-old Blackbutt man has been charged with one count each of trespass and possession of dangerous drugs and two counts of possession of tainted property.
A 23-year-old Kingaroy woman was charge with seven offences including two counts of receiving tainted property and one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of prescription medication, possess utensils, burglary, and unlawful use of motor vehicle.
They are both due to appear in the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on May 30.
A 26-year-old Chinchilla man has been charged with 21 offences including six counts of stealing, four counts of receiving tainted property, three counts of disqualified driving, two counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle and one count each of burglary, enter premises, unlawful possession of a firearm, possess explosive, possession of dangerous drugs and fail to take care with respect of syringes.
He is due back before the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on June 27.
A 28-year-old Chinchilla man has been charged with 33 offences including eight counts of stealing, six counts of wilful damage, four counts of receive tainted property and enter premise, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, disqualified driving and possession of a weapon and one count each of possess dangerous drugs, possess utensils, carry loaded firearm in public, possess explosives and wilful damage.
He appeared in the Dalby Magistrates Court on May 10 and is due to reappear before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 9.
Police earlier charged a fourth man in connection to the break and enter of a Bushgrove School Road address in Cooranga on March 16.
Police were conducting patrols near the Kingaroy airport on March 28 where they observed a man and a woman acting suspiciously.
A subsequent search of their vehicle uncovered a .22mag rifle and ammunition.
Officers later executed a search warrant at a Taabinga address on April 22, where they located a second firearm, a .243 rifle.
Both weapons were identified as having also been allegedly stolen from the Cooranga property.
A 27-year-old man Taabinga was charged with two counts of possess firearm, one count of possess altered serial number on firearm and one count of possess explosives.
Officer in Charge of Kingaroy's Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Sergeant (D/S) Scott Prendergast said the arrests were the result of hard work and commitment.
'This has been an extensive investigation and is a great result for the Darling Downs District.
'We will continue to work hard to weed out these criminals and remove them from our community, to keep our community safe.
'This is also a timely reminder for all property owners to take the necessary steps to ensure their property is secure, to significantly reduce the risk of theft.' D/S Prendergast said.
Police investigations are continuing.
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.
Operation Whiskey Firestorm is a high-impact statewide initiative designed to tackle the critical issues of firearm safety and illicit firearms.
The operation is sending a clear message about the importance of proper firearm storage and the role licenced firearm owners play in ensuring community safety. Operation Whiskey Firestorm is also focusing on a coordinated statewide response to the investigation, prevention and disruption activities involving illicit firearms offences and violent firearm related offending.
This operation comes in response to 2024 statistics which saw 1,055 firearm licenses revoked, and over 3,290 offences involving firearms, including serious offences such as attempted murder, assault, robbery and unlawful entry.
The QPS will be conducting extensive audits, coordinating regional operations, and working with licensed firearm owners to ensure they meet safety and ownership rules and regulations.
