Teen driver rams stolen car into cops
A TEENAGE girl driving a stolen car rammed a police vehicle, as new crime data reveals a worrying rise in stolen cars last month.
The 13-year-old was driving a stolen Toyota Corolla when she crashed into police at the roundabout of Dalrymple Rd and Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan about 4.45am yesterday.
Townsville police district duty officer Senior Sergeant Darren Randall said the vehicle was damaged, but officers escaped without injury.
He said two girls, a 13-yearold driver and a 12-year-old passenger, were arrested at the scene and another five juveniles fled the scene.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the 13year-old had been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
New police data shows in December last year, there were 136 vehicles stolen, 32 more than in November.
There were 17 more incidents of unlawful use of motor vehicles compared to the previous month with 104 cases recorded in December.
There were a total of 35,025 offences recorded last year.
Burdekin MP Dale Last said the State Government’s laws to combat crime were not working.
“Clearly there is evidence
Advertisement there is simply a revolving door situation of juveniles committing offences, being put before the court, getting back out and reoffending,” he said.
“Surely it’s not going take a serious injury or a fatality for them to wake up.”
Mr Last said the supervised community accommodation facilities, which were designed to house youths awaiting court matters to be finalised, were costing the taxpayer too much.
“Clearly we have a juvenile crime epidemic in Townsville,” he said. “When a teenager driving a stolen car is ramming a police vehicle that shows a complete disregard for the laws of our state.”
The 53 permanent police officers pledged at the last election are due to be on the ground by June 30.
The Department of Youth Justice was contacted for comment.
WHEN A TEENAGER DRIVING A STOLEN CAR IS RAMMING A POLICE VEHICLE THAT SHOWS A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE LAWS OF OUR STATE.
DALE LAST