The newly established Tablelands Property Crime Unit have charged 116 people with 410 offences since 24 February.
Earlier this month, officers from the Tablelands Property Crime Unit, Millaa Millaa Station and Malanda Station executed multiple search warrants at a Millaa Millaa property.
Officers allegedly seized more than $50,000 worth of stolen property, doors, fence panels, number plates, a variable message traffic sign, a data sign traffic trailer, a single axle trailer, a portaloo trailer, roadworks equipment, power tools, and several signs belonging to government departments, local councils, and businesses, including the Millaa Millaa lookout sign.
A 40-year-old Millaa Millaa man was arrested at the property on 12 May and charged with 26 offences including thirteen counts of receiving tainted property, four counts of unlawful possession of a vehicle, three counts of possess utensils, and two counts each of possess anything used in the commission of a crime, possess dangerous drugs, and one count each of contravention of a domestic violence order and fail to dispose of a syringe.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on 13 May.
On 10 May, officers arrested an 18-year-old Mareeba man at a park in Mareeba.
It will be alleged he was involved with several property offences, including the theft of a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross from a Sutherland Street business earlier that morning.
He was charged with 20 offences including three counts of breach of bail, two counts each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted enter dwelling with intent, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, serious assault police, stealing, and one count each of burglary, enter premises, fail to take reasonable care and precautions with respect of syringe/ needle, obstruct police, and trespass.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on 25 May.
Detective Acting Inspector Tony Law said the Tablelands Property Crime Unit are committed to disrupt and preventing property crime in the region.
"Having this dedicated unit means we can use intelligence-driven strategies to target the offenders causing the most harm in the community," Detective Acting Inspector Law said.
"These officers live in the Tablelands and are dedicated to protecting their community and will continue to take offenders into custody, and put them before court."
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.
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