Cairns weekend media wrap, Monday August 21
Property charges, Trinity Beach: A 17-year-old male youth from Bentley Park was charged on Friday following investigations into a series of property related incidents at Trinity Beach in May.
It will be alleged the youth was one of a group of seven that gained entry to a house in Quail Close at Woree in the early hours of May 27 and stole cash and car keys, before stealing the owner’s four-wheel-drive vehicle from the garage.
It will be further alleged that they then drove the stolen vehicle to Trinity Beach and committed further burglary and property offences in the vicinity of Seaways Street and Bosun Place.
Police located the stolen vehicle the following day at a unit complex at Woree, and also located another two unrelated stolen vehicles parked on a street behind the complex.
Officers attended the youths Bentley Park residence on Friday and he was charged with four counts of burglary and one count each of entering premises with intent and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
A White Rock boy aged 14, two boys aged 15 from Woree and Manoora, another two aged 16 from Woree and White Rock, and an 18-year-old Earlville man have already been charged over the same incidents and investigations are now finalised.
Stealing charge, Manunda: A 22-year-old Western Australian man was charged on Saturday following the alleged theft of liquor from a Manunda bottle shop.
It will be alleged the man entered the English Street business at around 11.40am on Saturday and fled on foot with a package of pre-mixed spirits, before getting into vehicle which then drove off.
The man was later seen getting out of the vehicle on the Captain Cook Highway near Holloways Beach about 20 minutes later. The vehicle then sped off in heavy traffic and police were unable to conduct an intercept.
The man was taken into custody and a quantity of liquor was allegedly located in his backpack.
He was subsequently charged with stealing and is expected to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court later this morning.
‘Anywhere, anytime’ – even up the Cape! A 21-year-old Napranum man was charged on Saturday following a traffic intercept on the Peninsula Development Road.
Officers from the Cairns Road Policing Unit were in the area conducting patrols as part a traffic operation when they observed the vehicle being driven with a seriously damaged windscreen.
The driver was intercepted and underwent a roadside breath test, subsequently returning a breath alcohol reading of .190. Further inquiries revealed the man was driving on an expired learner permit.
He was charged with one count each of driving whilst under the influence of liquor or a drug and unlicensed driving.
Whilst officers were dealing with the man, it will be alleged that they intercepted a second male driver who they had dealt with on the previous evening for a drug driving related incident and placed on a 24-hour driver licence suspension.
He allegedly returned a second positive drug test and officers also located a small quantity of cannabis in his possession.
The 19-year-old Rocky Point man was charged with driving with a relevant drug in his saliva, possession of a dangerous drugs and driving under 24-hour suspension. His driver licence was again immediately suspended.
Trying to see through that windscreen would be a challenge!
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Source: Cairns Crime Alert
