Sunshine Coast police charge 405 offenders under Operation Yankee Forge

Sunshine Coast police have charged 405 offenders under Operation Yankee Forge, a statewide crackdown on high harm offending launched in February.

The highly visible operation targets unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry offences, with officers focused on preventing, disrupting and investigating crime. Of those charged on the Sunshine Coast, 284 are adults and 121 are juveniles.

Police have charged 45 people with robbery offences, 245 with unlawful entry offences and 188 with unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences.

Among the cases, police allege a man broke into properties and vehicles in Maroochydore, Maroochy River, Kiels Mountain, Nambour, Kureelpa and Flaxton between 11 and 20 October, stealing a Toyota Prado, tools, licence plates and other items. Police allege he was with another person during some of the offending and that some of the stolen property was pawned for cash.

The Toyota and some of the other stolen items were found on Ringwood Lane in Mapleton on 19 October. Officers went to a park on Delicia Road in Mapleton the next day, where the man allegedly tried to flee by jumping into a pond.

A 31-year-old Mapleton man was arrested and charged with 25 offences, including six counts of enter dwelling and commit, three counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break and nine counts of receiving tainted property. He also faces one count each of stealing, unlawful possession of a motor vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm and fraud, as well as three drug offences. He appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 22 October and was remanded in custody to reappear on 23 November.

A 21-year-old Petrie man was arrested on 25 October and charged with one count each of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, fraud and receiving tainted property. He appeared in Caboolture Magistrates Court on 26 October and was remanded in custody to reappear on 9 December.

Sunshine Coast District Officer Acting Superintendent Craig Mansfield said the results send a clear message that unlawful use of motor vehicles, unlawful entry and robberies will not be tolerated.

"Targeted operations like Yankee Forge not only disrupt criminal activity, but they also have a tangible impact on the community by bolstering safety and providing residents with peace of mind that police take these offences extremely seriously."