Officers from the Cairns Property Crime Unit, Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Far North Dog Squad, General Duties and POLAIR have charged ten teenagers following the theft of several vehicles and serious traffic offences last week.
It will be alleged the teenagers were reportedly driving erratically in a stolen Toyota Rav4, a white Chery Omoda, a Mazda BT50, and Holden Trax over 12 March and 13 March.
It will be further alleged the Rav4 rammed a police vehicle on James Street. No one was injured.
Around 10am on 12 March, the Chery Omoda and Holden Trax were subject to tyre deflation devices in Edmonton and Mooroobool and were abandoned shortly after.
The BT50 was located around 8.45pm that evening in Edmonton.
Around 4pm that afternoon, a 16-year-old Yarrabah boy, a 14-year-old Edmonton girl and a 15-year-old Manoora were located in bushland in Woree after allegedly running from the Rav4.
Around 1.30am on 13 March, the Rav4 was the subject of a tyre deflation device on Mulgrave Road at Woree and was abandoned a short time later.
Shortly after, seven teenage boys were located by Dog Squad officers hiding in a Dundee Close backyard in the early hours of 13 March.
A 15-year-old Westcourt boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and wilful damage. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Children's Court on 2 April.
A 16-year-old Whitfield boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of fraud. He is due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 7 May.
A 15-year-old Cairns North boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 24 March.
A 16-year-old Manunda boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing. He was remanded in custody and was due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 16 March.
A 17-year-old Bentley Park boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He is due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 19 March.
A 17-year-old Edmonton boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle and enter dwelling and commit. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 19 March.
A 15-year-old Manoora boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter dwelling with intent by break. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 19 March.
A 15-year-old Manoora girl was charged with five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of stealing. He is due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 27 March.
A 14-year-old Edmonton girl was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. She is due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court on 2 April.
A 16-year-old Yarrabah boy was charged with four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of demanding property with menaces with intent to steal and attempted stealing. He is due to appear in the Yarrabah Childrens Court on 18 March.
The ongoing disruption of stolen vehicles is coordinated as part of Operation Yankee Forge, a six-month statewide initiative focused on reducing victimisation and targeting offenders who cause the greatest harm to our communities.
The operation will enhance policing activities across Queensland to further reduce victim numbers and improve community safety.
Since 27 February, Far North Police have charged 87 people with 173 counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, robbery and unlawful entry alone.
186 people have been charged with 618 offences during the same period including stealing, drug offences, assault and wilful damage.
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.
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