Couple in shock as cops swoop
AN alleged key property offender is in custody and a couple are recovering after they were allegedly carjacked in a late-night incident in the middle of a Cairns highway.
Property crime squad officers say the 27-year-old Parramatta Park man has allegedly been on a two-week crime spree involving break-ins and car thefts from Innisfail to Port Douglas, through Cairns and across the Tablelands.
It is alleged he was behind the wheel of a car he stole, along with two boys aged 14 and 15, which drove the wrong way up the Bruce Highway at Edmonton on Saturday night after having its tyres spiked by police.
The trio then allegedly forced a couple in a Mazda 6 to stop, demanded they get out of their car and were about to steal it before being surrounded by multiple officers and arrested.
The man is due to face the Cairns Magistrates Court today on at least 30 charges.
Acting Sgt Stuart Greenwell said it was alleged the man was involved in a ram raid at the Red Beret Hotel in Redlynch about a fortnight ago, along with a string of other offences.
“These have allegedly included (break-ins) businesses as well as residences,” he said.
Police were tracking the trio on Saturday night and managed to spike the tyres of the Toyota dual cab utility they were driving on Robert Rd at Bentley Park.
The ute had allegedly been stolen from Bramston Beach earlier in the day. It drove on and pulled the wrong way on to the highway despite its spiked tyres, allegedly forcing other cars to swerve out of its way before pulling in front of the Mazda to force it to stop.
Acting Sgt Greenwell said the couple involved were shocked, but recovering.
The 15-year-old White Rock boy has been charged with burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and robbery with violence, while the 14year-old Manunda boy has been charged with burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, robbery with violence and assaulting police.