By Jeremy Cook
A Warwick teenager has copped a whopping 94 charges after a string of alleged break-ins across Brisbane and Gatton last month.
The 17-year-old boy was allegedly part of a group of five male teenagers who police said had forced their way into a number of restaurants and businesses in Brisbane’s south on 29 August. Police alleged the group damaged glass and stole tills from cash registers.
Three of the boys, including the Warwick teen and a 16 and 17-year-old from Brisbane’s southern suburbs, were then alleged to have hit businesses in a similar manner east of Toowoomba at Plainland less than a week later on 4 September.
Police said the trio were also allegedly involved in further break-ins across the Brisbane suburbs of Oxley, Sunnybank Hills and Forest Lake that very same day.
The Warwick teen also allegedly smashed glass panels to steal cash and goods from several businesses in Gatton several days earlier alongside one of the other boys, a 16-year-old from Inala, police alleged. Both were arrested in Warwick on 4 September and charged with 94 property crime offences each. They were due to appear in Toowoomba Childrens Court the following day.
The arrests followed a joint operation between intelligence and forensic teams as well as officers with the Centenary Crime Team in Brisbane’s south, the tactical crime squad in St George and detectives in the Darling Downs.
“Through exceptional investigative work, this multi-skilled team has successfully identified and tracked the youths allegedly responsible for a series of shop breaks across Southeast Queensland earlier this week,” Acting Senior Sergeant Justin Suffolk from Acacia Ridge Criminal Investigation Branch said.
“Their tenacity and rapid response ensured we can bring those alleged to be involved before the courts, and to be held countable for the considerable disruption to businesses and other harm they have caused,” Snr Sgt Suffolk said.
Two 17-year-olds from Gatton and Doolandella were arrested in St George last Monday as part of the operation. They were charged with 43 and 50 property crime offences respectively.
A 17-year-old Acacia Ridge boy was also charged with 57 property crime offences and was due before Richlands Childrens Court last Friday.
