Nearly 80 vehicles stolen in week-long crime spree in Queensland

Police in Queensland have arrested 14 people who are alleged to have committed more than 140 offences in seven days.

Townsville residents and business owners were left feeling unsafe and targeted after a week-long crime spree resulted in multiple businesses being ram-raided by stolen cars.

According to a previous ABC report, 79 vehicles were allegedly stolen in the past seven days and more than 140 offences were committed by mostly teenagers – with some of the cars reportedly used to raid six businesses as well as damage five police cars in a “deliberate attack”.

Queensland authorities heightened police presence in North Queensland in response, with specialists flown into Townsville – a town approximately 1350km north of Brisbane and 350km south of Cairns – to control the rapid rate of theft and increasing threat to public safety caused by the offending teens.

According to the Australian news publication, helicopters deployed by the State Government arrived on Saturday 9 December 2023 to detect the stolen vehicles while police attempted to track offenders with the use of the dog squad.

On Monday 11 December 2023 a total of 14 people with alleged involvement in the seven-day crime spree were arrested – 11 of which were teenagers aged from 11 to 16 – and are expected to face charges relating to more than 140 offences.

Some of the charges include “unlawful and dangerous use of motor vehicles, entering dwellings, and receiving tainted property,” according to the ABC.

District Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgeman mentioned the possible influence of social media on teenagers who commit serious offences.

“I just can’t believe that level of offending some of these kids are going to,” Chief Superintendent Hodgeman said in a written statement.

“It seems they’re mimicking things they see on social media.”

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