Far North Crime Blitz Nets 605 Charges

Queensland police have charged 605 people with 1,575 offences since launching Operation Yankee Forge in the Far North in February, targeting robbery, unlawful entry and unlawful use of motor vehicles.

Police said 284 young people accounted for 984 charges, while 321 adults faced 591 charges. Among the reported offences were 91 robbery charges, 972 unlawful entry charges and 512 unlawful use of a motor vehicle charges.

In one recent case, Smithfield police arrested four teenagers on July 19 after they were allegedly found entering homes in Smithfield and Trinity Park. The group—two 18-year-old men, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy—was charged with 43 offences, including 11 counts of entering a dwelling and 25 counts of attempted entry. They are due to reappear in the Cairns Magistrates and Children’s Court.

In a separate incident, officers arrested a 35-year-old Earlville man after he allegedly fled from police in a vehicle displaying false registration plates. Police said the vehicle was tracked by POLAIR through White Rock before a tyre-deflation device was deployed. The man was charged with 18 offences, including dangerous operation of a vehicle, evasion, driving without a licence and trespass.

Far North District Officer Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said police would continue using specialist units, proactive patrols and intelligence-led operations to target high-harm offenders. Operation Yankee Forge is a six-month, statewide initiative coordinated across Queensland to reduce property crime and improve community safety.