Queensland Police have charged four juveniles with multiple property offences, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, after officers successfully tracked an allegedly stolen car by land and air on Friday.
Police say that at around 11.30am, the allegedly stolen Haval Jolion was travelling through Railway Estate when police successfully deployed road spikes.
The four youths, aged 17 to 13, abandoned the vehicle a short distance away and fled on foot into nearby bushland in Oonoonba.
Footage from the Police chopper shows the boys scrambling across the roadway (above) before they are seen walking calmly across a local bridge (below), not realising their every move was being tracked by Police.
Ground crews, with the assistance of the helicopter, were able to swiftly locate and take all four youths into custody without incident.
A 17-year-old Burdell girl has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. She has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Townsville Childrens Court on March 12.
A 13-year-old Palm Island boy has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Townsville Childrens Court on March 4.
A 15-year-old Deeragun boy has been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possess dangerous drugs. He has been remanded in custody and is due before Townsville Childrens Court on March 4.
A 15-year-old Kirwan girl was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing. She has been remanded in custody and is due before Townsville Childrens Court on March 7.
Police believe the vehicle was allegedly stolen from Warland Street, Kirwan earlier that morning on March 1.
Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Tom Armitt said the combined efforts of local police on the ground and in the air demonstrated how the helicopter strengthened the local response to youth offending.
“Having eyes in the sky thanks to our contracted helicopter TV441 allows us to provide effective support to ground crews,” Acting Chief Superintendent Armitt said.
“Our local police already do a tremendous job each day and having this additional capability is a welcome support.
“Taking four youths into custody within minutes of a successful tyre deflation and without any injury to the public, police or the alleged offenders shows what great success the ariel asset already is in Townsville.
“We have taken four recidivist offenders off the streets, and they are now before the courts,” he said.
