The State Flying Squad (SFS) has ended another successful deployment in Townville, with 13 officers providing extra boots on the ground over eight days, as part of ongoing enforcement action to drive down property crime in the district.
The collaboration between local officers, State Flying Squad and other specialist units, has seen 980 adults charged with 2,712 offences and 264 young people charged with 943 offences including property crime, drug-related, domestic violence and breach of bail offences since the surge response began in Townsville on 9 August. That includes State Flying Squad detectives charging 54 people with 132 offences in the past eight days of their deployment.
Around 9.15am on 26 September, police attended a unit in Garbutt and arrested three people on property crime and drug offences.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence, and one count each of serious assault of a person over 60, enter dwelling and commit, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and possess drug utensils in relation to multiple offences. The offences occurred on 24 and 25 September. He was remanded in custody to re-appear in Townsville Childrens Court on 14 October.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises, commit indictable offence and possess dangerous drugs. These offences were committed between 15 and 26 September. He was remanded in custody to re-appear in Townsville Childrens Court on 14 October.
Police will allege both boys were charged in relation to allegedly stealing a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and a bag from a business in Idalia on 24 September.
A 35-year-old woman was charged with possession of dangerous drug and possess utensils and given a drug diversion.
On 29 September, following a fire in the vicinity of a shopping centre in Thuringowa Central, two 14-year-old boys were dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Police located a 13-year-old boy in an alleged stolen Toyota RAV 4 on Reardon Street in Garbutt around 2am on 28 September. He has also been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
State Flying Squad officers executed 12 search warrants during their deployment, including a search warrant in Cranbrook on 27 September. Drug utensils, cannabis and replica firearm (gel blaster) were located.
Detectives charged a 23-year-old Cranbrook man with possess of dangerous drugs, possess drug utensils and possess property suspected of being used in commission of drug offence. The man is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on 23 October.
On 28 September, State Flying Squad officers executed a search warrant in Vincent and located knuckleduster, drug utensils, counterfeit currency, cannabis, jewellery and power tools.
A 24-year-old Kelso man was charged with unlawful possession of weapon, possession of suspected stolen property and possess property suspected of being acquired for purpose of committing drug offence. The man is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on 13 October.
A 22-year-old Ayr woman and 37-year-old Vincent woman were both charged with possession of drug utensils. They were both offered and accepted drug diversion.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said Townsville police welcome the continued assistance of the State Flying Squad in cracking down on property crime.
"The State Flying Squad officers assist local specialist and general duties police to continue to put downward pressure on property offending in Townsville. This current deployment is the sixth State Flying Squad deployment since the surge response commenced on 9 August," Detective Inspector Shepherd said.
"Townsville District has seen significant declines in offences over the past few weeks and support from specialist units across the state assists local police in keeping the community safe."
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 or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
