Base break-ins

CHARGES LAID OVER CAR THEFTS

A MAN has been charged after he allegedly entered the Townsville RAAF base twice and stole two cars at the weekend.

About 10pm on April 17, it is alleged the man, 29, trespassed on the RAAF base and stole personal items, including two sets of keys.

Police have alleged the man then drove away in a gold Volkswagen Golf, which was later found abandoned at The Strand just before 2am.

It has been alleged that the man returned to the base later to steal a gold Ford Fiesta.

He then attempted to re-enter the base again at 6am on Sunday morning using the stolen vehicle but drove away when he was denied entry. It is understood the man tried to use the Ford owner’s ID and was wearing an Airservices uniform.

The vehicle was found a short time later abandoned at a nearby industrial estate.

The man was arrested around 11am yesterday when he allegedly tried to enter the base for a third time and was found driving around the facility in a buggy. The man was charged with entering a premises to commit t an indictable offence, e, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and tres- pass on Common- wealth land.

He was also charged with possessing an ID for indictable offence e and attempted trespassing on Commonwealth land.

In a separate incident, security encountered a juvenile male wandering around the RAAF base, around 3am on Sunday.

The juvenile was taken into custody and told security they had come from a party nearby in Garbutt.

Police said nothing had been stolen and the juvenile was spotted “pretty quickly” given they were on alert after the cars had been stolen.

He was subsequently taken home. The two incidents are not believed to be connected but police investigations are continuing.

Herbert MP Phil Thompson (pictured) said the multiple security br breaches at the RAAF w were very concerning.

“I have been informed that po police have been at the RAAF ba base over the weekend conti tinuing with their investigati tion,” Mr Thompson said. “I h have contacted minister Dutto ton and expressed my conce cerns about the multiple se security breaches, the theft of a vehicle as well as the thief im impersonating an Airservices employee to gain access to the base. “People work very hard to own their own vehicle and to have some scumbag criminal have no regard for someone’s property and to steal it and ransack whatever’s inside is simply not good enough.

“There must be punishments crimes committed,” he said.

A Defence spokesman the security breaches.

“Defence can confirm there was unauthorised entry to RAAF Base Townsville on the night of 17-18 April 2021,” the spokesman said.

“As there is an ongoing investigation it is not appropriate for Defence to comment on any further details.” base for addressed