Police act on spike in crimes

SPIKING property crime has prompted a major police operation to be launched in Townsville.

Tactical Services Group Inspector Sean Dugger discreetly launched Operation Bellator last week in response to an onslaught of break- ins and stolen cars that have frustrated police in the past month.

Intelligence will be relied upon throughout the operation, which is built on a platform of targeted patrols of known property crime hot spots and the whereabouts of known property offenders.

About 150 houses were broken into in Townsville in the past fortnight while close to 50 cars were stolen.

This high number of offences came in the wake of a terrible week at the end of October in which more than 100 break- ins were reported.

Insp Dugger said the general duties police would be working alongside a number of dedicated units including the Rapid Action Patrol Group, Tactical Crime Squad, Road Policing Command, Property Crime Unit and the Dog Squad.

“We will concentrate on property offences and more importantly, property offenders, with a view to stop crime and keep the community safe,” Insp Dugger said.

“In the past few days since the operation started we have identified a number of people who fall into that category and they have been arrested.”

Insp Dugger said youth offenders and adults were both in the sights of police throughout the operation.

“It is an intelligence- driven activity and we have very strong intelligence that provides us with good information, and allows us to focus our patrols and tells us who to look for in relation to the offending,” he said.

Acting Chief Superintendent Steve Munro recently expressed his frustration with property crime remaining high despite significant police arrests.

Supt Munro confirmed no additional troops would be brought into the district during the three- week operation with local resources set to be re- allocated and the “borderless policing” approach, that was championed in last year’s Operation Quebec Ironside, put in action.

It is understood police were planning on conducting a high- profile operation towards the end of the year but the recent spike in property crime forced their hand and Bellator was initiated.

Insp Dugger said the public appeared to have been taking necessary steps to maximising their home security.