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<\/p>\nNine teenagers have been charged in relation to a string of alleged car thefts in north Queensland that saw three officers taken to hospital and a police car allegedly stolen from the side of a highway.<\/p>\n
Queensland Police responded to reports of several allegedly stolen vehicles being driven around Townsville about midday on Monday.<\/p>\n
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Police allege two offenders gained access to an unmarked police vehicle, while others fled on foot, after officers deployed a tyre deflation device to stop two other cars the teenagers had allegedly stolen.<\/p>\n
Three police officers were transported to Townsville University Hospital with minor injuries from the incident, but have since been released.<\/p>\n
Seven children and two adults \u2014 an 18-year-old Garbutt man and an 18-year-old Kirwan woman \u2014 have been charged with offences related to the theft of five vehicles, as well as obstructing and assaulting officers.<\/p>\n
A 15-year-old Vincent boy and a 16-year-old Rasmussen boy, arrested on Tuesday in relation to the incident, were refused bail and will face the Townsville Magistrates Court for the first time tomorrow.<\/p>\n
The other seven alleged adult and child offenders have been refused bail and will next appear in court in May.<\/p>\n
Townsville father counting the costs<\/p>\n
Townsville man Daniel Toppi is counting the cost of lost income after his work vehicle was allegedly stolen by the group.<\/p>\n
He said his family, based in Elliot Springs, had forgotten to check that the rear entry of their home was locked.<\/p>\n
“We woke to the sound of keys dropping \u2026 found some kids running out of the house,” he recounted.<\/p>\n
The group stole a 2020 Ford Ranger, which was central to a new career pathway for the father of two, who is navigating life with a disability.<\/p>\n
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Daniel Toppi is counting the costs after his business vehicle was stolen. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)<\/p>\n
“I had a [motorbike] accident last year, I lost the use of my arm, with that I lost my job and my sense of identity,” Mr Toppi said.<\/p>\n
“I started to rebuild that through mobile [car] detailing \u2026 I found [the] Ford Ranger and set it up in a position where I could run a business out of the back of it.<\/p>\n
“That car was taken from me, and it was at bad time where I had just found my feet.”<\/p>\n
It will be weeks before Mr Toppi regains his vehicle and all the mounted equipment inside.<\/p>\n
He expected the cost of his lost bookings and paying his insurance excess would reach $3,000.<\/p>\n
State government says more work to be done on crime<\/p>\n
Townsville residents have long complained of disproportionate car thefts and youth crime in the city.<\/p>\n
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“Adult time, adult crime” was a key election campaign policy for the LNP. (ABC News: Cameron Simmons)<\/p>\n
The LNP capitalised on the city’s crime frustrations at the last state election in 2024, flipping three Labor-held seats after a “tough on crime” campaign.<\/p>\n
A report from the Queensland government statistician’s office shows that while there was a slight rise in offences committed throughout the state in the 2024-25 financial year, the rate of offences committed in Queensland fell by 1.2 per cent when accounting for population growth.<\/a><\/p>\n Queensland Attorney-General and Acting Police Minister Deb Frecklington said there was always more work to be done on crime.<\/p>\n Deb Frecklington says there is more work to be done on crime. (AAP: Darren England)<\/p>\n “We are giving police and the courts stronger laws,” Ms Frecklington said.<\/p>\n The LNP Crisafulli government has introduced tougher maximum penalties for young offenders under its “Adult Crime Adult Time” policy.<\/p>\n![\"deb](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e2b1b43e8b90eea97fce15052c717f5e.jpeg\")
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