Police nab top crimes suspect

TOWNSVILLE’S property crime week from hell may ease, after the arrest of a “high priority” offender allegedly responsible for a significant amount of break- ins and car thefts.

Multiple groups of offenders, some of them believed to be juveniles, have been wreaking havoc across the city in the last seven days.

The tally stood at 112 break and enters and 34 stolen cars as of yesterday.

A unit complex in Douglas was struck three nights in a row starting Sunday, with thieves allegedly using vice grips to crush and twist door knobs to gain entry to homes.

At the height of the property crime rampage this week there were 22 break- in offences in a 24- hour period.

Detectives have since arrested a “high priority” offender they have alleged was involved in a large num- ber of break- ins and car thefts since Saturday.

Trikon Leonard Thimble, 20, of Heatley, has been charged with 34 offences, including seven counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and 10 break- in offences.

Detective Senior Constable Tony Hogan, of the Townsville CIB, said Thimble was arrested at an address in Heatley about midday on Thursday after intelligence and public information suggested that was his hide- out.

It was alleged Thimble’s offending was “wide- ranging” and occurred throughout the Townsville area.

He allegedly broke into homes to steal keys and the corresponding car.

Police will allege he was associated with a number of offenders who were charged earlier this week.

Operation Harvest, a coordinated police response launched to combat the recent spike in property crime, had netted 31 people as of Wednesday.

Tactical Services Group’s Inspector Sean Dugger said the priority target was intercepted by officers from the Rapid Action Patrols group in conjunction with the Property Crime Unit.

“We are hopeful that in turn will be reflected in a reduction in the spate of property crime offences over the last week,” he said.

“Certainly however, we’re not focused on a single target and we are looking to continue this work in identifying, through intellig e n c e - d r i v e n patrols, to locate other offenders to reduce further offences.”