The Queensland Police Tablelands Property Crime Unit has charged more than 200 offenders – including serious repeat offenders – in its first six months.
The Tablelands Property Crime Unit, which builds on the success of the Cairns Property Crime Unit, was launched in February with a targeted crackdown on serious repeat offenders and serious property crime in the state’s Far North.
The unit brings together detectives and plain-clothes officers working alongside the Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Far North Dog Squad, general duties police and POLAIR to disrupt offending and hold offenders to account.
In its first six months, the Tablelands Property Crime Unit has charged:
- 142 adults with 611 offences;
- 85 juveniles with 257 offences.
In May, officers from the Unit, Millaa Millaa Station and Malanda Station, executed multiple search warrants at a Millaa Millaa property (pictured).
Officers allegedly seized more than $50,000 worth of stolen property, doors, fence panels, number plates, a variable message traffic sign, a data sign traffic trailer, a single axle trailer, a portaloo trailer, roadworks equipment, power tools, and several signs belonging to government departments, local councils, and businesses, including the Millaa Millaa lookout sign.
A 40-year-old Millaa Millaa man was arrested at the property and charged with 26 offences including 13 counts of receiving tainted property, four counts of unlawful possession of a vehicle, three counts of possess utensils, and two counts each of possess anything used in the commission of a crime, possess dangerous drugs, and one count each of contravention of a domestic violence order and fail to dispose of a syringe.
Far North District Officer Acting Chief Superintendent Mick Searle said the Tablelands Property Crime Unit will continue to target property crime offenders causing harm in the community.
“These officers are some of the most dedicated and hard-working police in our region, and the results from the past six-months highlight their commitment to community safety,” A/Chief Supt Searle said.
“Their local knowledge, use of intelligence-driven strategies, and coordinated efforts means they target the right people, in the right places, at the right time.
“We will continue to adapt our approaches to disrupting, preventing and investigation crime to meet community needs.”
