General News
20 November, 2024
Mount Isa youths charged for posting car thefts on social media
It's believed to be the first time local police have enforced the new social media crime laws.
Youths who allegedly stole two cars in Mount Isa last week have been charged with a raft of offences, including posting their crime spree on social media, in what is likely the first time the newly expanded “post and boast” laws have been enforced in the city.
Police said a Nissan Navara and Toyota Prado were stolen from a Mount Isa residence just after 5.30am on November 14.
It is understood the youths gained access to the home by removing louvres and a loose flyscreen from a window where they entered the premises and located car keys.
The brazen thieves took the cars for a joyride through the city for about four hours.
At one point, police commandeered the LifeFlight helicopter for about 45 minutes to assist in tracking the vehicles.
About 10 additional police were also called back to work to assist with stopping the vehicles, which included two failed attempts to halt the cars using tyre deflation devices.
As the commencement of the school day approached, police sent out text messages and public announcements warning residents to not intercept the vehicles and avoid the roads wherever possible.
Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck, the officer in charge at Mount Isa’s police station, said most vehicles that were stolen in the city were either located by police or abandoned by offenders before daylight hours.
“It is extremely difficult to stop a stolen motor vehicle safely and all the actions we put into place are for the safety of the public,” he said.
One of the vehicles, which was a government-owned car with a GPS tracker, was abandoned by the offenders near the Mount Isa hospital.
The other vehicle was also abandoned soon afterwards but took several hours to be located by police, with the offenders fleeing the area.
Snr Sgt Rieck said police next instigated a series of raids at addresses around the city and two youths were apprehended later the same day.
Two boys, aged 16 and 17, were charged with multiple offences, including unlawfully entering a dwelling, unlawful possession of a vehicle and the newly enacted law prohibiting publishing material on social media glorifying crimes.
Interestingly, the youths were not charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle due to the nature of their driving.
Snr Sgt Rieck said investigations were under way to identify and arrest anyone else suspected of being involved in the thefts.
He said he was not aware of any prior offenders being charged with the stand alone “post and boast” offence that only came into effect in August.
“These are new laws introduced by the previous (state government) – these young people are posting these activities to get their likes on social media and so police will also be using these laws when required,” he said.
The expanded laws have created a new stand-alone offence for publishing material on social media depicting crimes where the purpose was to glorify the conduct or increase someone’s reputation.
The new offence applies to specific offences, such as burglary, car theft and weapons possession, and has a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.