Sunshine Coast police have arrested 19 young people on 225 charges as Operation Cornmeal concludes.
The Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) established Operation Cornmeal to identify, locate and arrest a group of recidivist property offenders following multiple reports of break and enters and stolen cars during August and September across the Sunshine Coast.
Throughout the month of September, 19 young people between the ages of 13-17 were identified, located and have now been charged with a combined total of 225 offences including common assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, burglary, trespass, wilful damage and obstruct police.
A 14-year-old Baringa girl has been charged with 44 offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving unlicensed, burglary and enter welling and commit indictable offence.
She is due to appear in the Maroochydore Childrens Court on October 30.
A 15-year-old Nambour boy has been charged with 17 offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter dwelling and commit, unlicensed driving, enter premises and commit and attempted enter premises.
He is due to appear in the Maroochydore Childrens Court on October 23.
Sunshine Cost Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said he and the CPIU take recidivist youth offending seriously.
“Through Operation Cornmeal, we have shown the Sunshine Coast community that we’re committed to their safety and will take action against offenders,” Detective Inspector Toohey said.
“Operation Cornmeal has resulted in a decrease in the amount of high-level offending which causes harm in our community.
“I thank the CPIU for their dedication to not only identifying and arresting offenders, but also being involved in the ongoing work to educate and support other young people in our community that are at risk of walking a similar path of repeat offending.
“The new Sunshine Coast Youth Co-Responder Team have engaged with 13 of the 19 young people charged and through the Youth Engagement Hub, police and support staff will continue to work with the offenders, their families, friends and schools to break the cycle of repeat offending.
“We are committed to taking serious action against youth offenders, as shown through Operation Cornmeal, however the Hub will tackle youth crime from multiple other angles to ensure we have all bases covered and address the root causes of youth crime in a sustainable and holistic way.”
