Man faces 24 charges over three- week crime spree

A 26- YEAR- OLD Charters Towers man who allegedly went on a crime spree is in custody.

On August 9 the man allegedly stole a car and mobile phone from an associate in Cairns. Police allege the man transferred money from his associate’s bank account to his own.

On August 15 a blue Mazda 3 was allegedly stolen from another associate. The car was then involved in a fuel drive- off in Innisfail.

According to Townsville Tactical Crime Squad officer- in- charge Senior Sergeant Jason Shepherd, four days later the man went to a number of homes of family members in Charters Towers and breached multiple domestic violence orders.

On the same day, police allege, he threatened a man known to him with a knife on the street, before going to another family home, where he stole a trailer and motorbike. Police allege the man threatened with a knife a relative who’d tried to get the trailer and motorbike back.

Sen- Sgt Shepherd said members of the public unknowingly helped the man after the Mazda had been immobilised on a rural property off Hervey Range Rd on August 22.

Police allege the man then skipped a taxi fare en route to Townsville, sparking a police search.

Stuart police stopped the man at Wulguru in the early hours of Thursday, but he allegedly gave a false name and drove away.

About 12.30pm on Thursday the man was arrested in North Ward.

He was remanded in custody on 24 charges on Friday and ordered to reappear in Townsville Magistrates Court on September 17.