POLICE CRACK DOWN ON CITY- WIDE CRIME SPREE:
Multiple arrests tipped to slow down crime spree that hit …
POLICE are hopeful the arrests of multiple offenders will quell a property crime wave in Townsville, after an average of one break- in every 80 minutes.
The Townsville Bulletin understands there were 18 breakins on Monday, following on from the 15 break- ins on Sunday.
The crime wave, which began last weekend, prompted Townsville’s Rapid Action Patrol group to launch Operation Harvest.
But police are confident arrests overnight on Monday could mean a “dramatic reduction”.
“Operation Harvest was commenced to co- ordinate resources at Townsville Police across all stations and sections in response to the current increase in property crime offending,” Inspector Joe Kitching said. “That operation will continue until all persons are identified.”
There were more than 50 break- ins between Friday and Sunday.
Insp Kitching said Operation Harvest fell under the umbrella of a larger long- running operation targeting community safety issues.
“At the end of the day we want to see property crime rates come down and at the moment we’ve got a higher rate of offending than what we ordinarily have had,” he said. “And we are hoping now with the arrests last night and over the weekend that the property crime rate will reduce.”
It is understood three juveniles allegedly responsible for stealing alcohol from a bottle shop in North Ward, before fleeing in a stolen vehicle, have been arrested.
A police spokesman con- firmed a 15- year- old girl from Slade Point, Mackay, was charged in relation to the incident on Sunday night.
She faces a dozen charges, including one count of enter premise to commit an indictable offence, five counts of stealing, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle to commit an indictable offence and one count of wilful damage.