Police flat out sorting through stolen goods
PROPERTY crime in the Cairns region has spiked yet again with more than $10,000 worth of stolen items seized by police in raids this week.
Cairns Property Crime Squad officers have charged 41 offenders with 148 offences in the past two weeks alone.
While most of the crimes are believed to be opportunistic, Detective Acting Sergeant Anthony Ellis said the importance of locking up could not be underestimated.
He said the most recent raids at homes at Cairns North and Earlville stemmed from reports that four single shot .22 calibre rifles and a quantity of ammunition had been stolen from a storage facility at a Digger St residential complex.
Following investigations, police searched an unattended Lake St address on Tuesday.
Officers found three of the rifles, ammunition, keys and other items allegedly stolen from Digger St.
Investigations continued on Wednesday and police officers searched a property at Ishmael Rd, Earlville. Officers spoke to two people at the residence.
They also seized a considerable amount of suspected stolen property, including tools, gaming equipment, fishing gear and other items.
A 19-year-old Gordonvale woman and a 22-year-old Westcourt man have since been charged.
But, Det A/Sgt Ellis said investigations into the outstanding rifle were continuing.
“We believe at this stage there is more than one person responsible,” he said.
“But we’re conducting inquiries and hope to have an outcome soon..
“I would say this represents a small group of offenders.
“Unfortunately, property crime is an issue in Cairns.”
Det A/Sgt Ellis said, while some of the property had been returned to its rightful owners, police would spend the next few days sifting through the remaining stolen items that could potentially belong to dozens of people.