Crime spree pair caught

TWO juvenile offenders, who went on an alleged weeks-long violent and destructive crime spree, have been taken off the streets after committing an alleged 50 crimes.

In the past week a man was allegedly assaulted in his home while his wife watched in horror, a stolen car showed up burnt out, an armed robbery occurred, and a police car was blatantly smashed up with a hammer before officers’ eyes.

At the lower the end of the scale, the two 16-year-old

Chinchilla boys allegedly broke into at least 20 homes and stole at least four cars.

After enduring countless property offences through much of 2019 and into 2020, fed-up residents created a petition calling for legislative change around juvenile offending, catching the attention of Police Minister Mark Ryan.

Several departments worked together to successfully lower the rate of juvenile offending, although the recent spate of offences was more violent than have been seen previously.

Queensland Police Service Chinchilla crime statistics from 2019 to 2021 show there was a spike in break and enters and car theft in July, although the data doesn’t yet extend to crimes in September.

A Chinchilla police spokesman assured the community they could sleep easier knowing the alleged offenders were remanded in custody for what could be months to come.

“Investigations are continuing and we urge residents to look after themselves and others, and report any suspicious activity,” he said.

The crime spree came to an end on Monday after Chinchilla police spent the morning relentlessly tracking the pair to ensure the community’s safety and peace of mind.

The spokesman said officers deployed road spikes and the pair, who fled in a stolen car, failed to manoeuvre around the spikes, popping one tyre.

Both boys were remanded in custody until their next court dates on October 6 and November 24.

One of the 16-year-olds is alleged to have committed 31 offences including, arson, assault, wilful damage of police property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, robbery armed in company, burglary, and unlawful entry.

The other boy is alleged to have committed 17 offences including attempted break and enter, property damage, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evade police, wilful damage of police property, assault, enter dwelling to commit indictable crime, robbery, and burglary. QPS safety tips on how to reduce the risk of burglary:

• Ensure doors and windows are secured.

• Install cameras

• Ensure all home and car keys are well hidden.

• Don’t leave a house key under the doormat or other obvious places.

• Keep cash, keys and valuables out of sight.

• When you go out, make it appear you’re at home by leaving lights on and music or the TV playing. You can do this using timers.

Anyone with information or wishing to report suspicious behaviour should phone Policelink on 131 444 or Chinchilla police on 4672 9666.