Boys, 13, charged on alleged theft spree

CAR thieves are window shopping around the Cairns region to upgrade older stolen vehicles for newer, more expensive models.

The Cairns Property Crime Unit charged six juveniles, including four 13-year-old boys, with 29 offences including seven car thefts, in relation to separate property crimes over the weekend.

“It all revolves around stolen cars. Burglaries to get keys, stealing fuel,” said Senior Constable Russell Parker.

“Like the rest of the population they want to drive around in a nice car.”

Snr Const. Parker said that when offenders, who were driving an “older” stolen car, had the chance to take a more up-market and expensive car “then they’ll take it”.

There have already been 36 vehicles stolen this month. Snr Const. Parker urged Cairns residents not to leave car keys, wallets, phones in plain sight inside their homes.

“Assume that if any offender comes to your address, they will gain entry,” he said.

He said it was very concerning for four 13-year-olds to be picked up on separate offences across the region. Most youth offenders in Cairns were aged between 12 and 18.

“Among these offenders there’s a lot of family who are doing absolutely nothing because these kids are out at all hours of the morning,” Snr Const. Parker said. “And they want you to be home because they know your car keys are at home. There’s no consideration at all for who they may be impacting.”

School holidays had no effect on youth crime figures because the kids committing crimes were not engaged in education, he added.

“What are parents doing about it? A lot of these parents just do not care,” he said.

Snr Const. Parker praised the efforts of the property crime unit. “They’re very good at identifying who’s responsible for what,” he said.