Mt Isa hit by big surge in youth crime

A SWAG of youth crime has shaken up a regional community with police saying the only way to solve the crisis is a whole-of-community approach.

Police at Mt Isa were working to combat the recent spike after multiple juvenile offenders wreaked havoc across the town. Between February 9 and 21, more than a dozen homes and cars were broken into by a group of juveniles aged between 10 and 15 years old.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the majority of crime was being committed by a “core group” of recidivist offenders.

Police were first called to a break-in at Camooweal on February 9 after a 14-year-old boy broke into a business and stole $150 cash.

The boy allegedly used a bottle of alcohol to smash the glass front door of the business and got away with the petty cash container.

During the night on February 15, two other boys allegedly stole a car from a Thiess Parade home after walking through the unlocked door and taking the keys, along with a gel blaster gun, money and some throwing darts.

The next day, a Cloncurry boy was among a gang of youths who broke into a business in Ramsay St and stole chocolates from a fridge.

The crime spree ended with a 10-year-old boy allegedly threatening an employee of an East St business with a bat, demanding money and holding the bat behind his back.

Most of the juveniles have been charged.

Further, a 15-year-old was charged with eight counts of enter premises in relation to a spate of car break-ins across three days from February 17.

The spokesman said the establishment of investigative unit, the Mt Isa Property Squad, had helped solve numerous crimes.

He said youth crime stemmed from a range of factors at Mt Isa, including environmental, psychological and social-economic factors.

“Resolving anti-social and criminal behaviour exhibited by young people requires a whole-of-government, whole of community and whole of family approach to break the cycle,” he said.

“The majority of juvenile offenders who are cautioned do not reoffend, however a small minority prove to be persistent offenders.”

He said statistically, the youth crime figures were consistent over the past three years.