Warning of rise in FNQ knife crime

THE number of youths walking the Far North and North Queensland streets armed with knives is on the rise and instilling fear “through the whole community” a crime expert has claimed.

Two teenagers – a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl – have been charged and two are assisting police after allegedly luring a 77-year-old woman from her Redlynch home, then holding her at knifepoint before stealing her car early on Monday morning, in an incident which shocked the Cairns community.

The woman had to be treated in hospital due to her injuries.

James Cook University criminologist Associate Professor Glenn Dawes said this type of offending was a “step up” from the typical car theft method of sneak break-ins to find keys, but sadly happening more often.

“Whether (they’re armed) to perform acts or defend themselves, which they might argue, I’m not sure,” he said.

“But violence in itself is on the rise in the community and it’s not just males, but females as well.

“This (Redlynch incident) is a step up and they’re emulating things they see in movies as well.

“It sends a real fear chapter through the whole community and there is a perceived lack of safety grounded in that where people don’t feel safe in their own homes.”

Assoc Prof Dawes said choosing “vulnerable targets” such as rural areas or elderly people was becoming a more common “modus operandi” of some young offenders.

The Redlynch alleged holdup comes two months after a trial was announced on the Gold Coast where police are using metal detectors to scan people for weapons including knives, particularly in Safe Night Precincts.

The trial is due to run for 12 months with a review at the end.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said if deemed successful he would “love to see it up here”.

“I will do everything in my power to ensure we see a reduction in crime,” he said.

“Anything we can get up here to reduce these types of appalling crimes, I would advocate for the community.”