General News
24 January, 2021
Three day crime wave hits Mareeba.
Last week Mareeba was hit by a mini crime wave over a three day period with many shops, businesses, community groups and cars being damaged.
Last week Mareeba was hit by a mini crime wave over a three day period with many shops, businesses, community groups and cars being damaged.
The post office centre in Byrnes Street had a number of windows smashed on Tuesday night. Owner of the centre Vince Randazzo said the criminals tried to smash or damage 6 or 7 windows, with two windows being smashed completely.
“It’s thousands of dollars’ worth of damage,” he said.
“We have CCTV and the police took the footage and I believe the police know who they are, the situation is out of control.”
It’s also believed on the same evening a car travelling on Constance street was attacked with rocks and a metal bar having panels and mirrors smashed on the car. A car in the Coles car park also had windows smashed.
Mr Randazzo said “When they start attacking cars in the street it's really dangerous,”
“It’s time the government did something about them.
“I rang Cynthia Luis office (Member for Cook) and left a message and she hasn’t called back since.
“I have rung the mayor and council is writing a letter to the government.
“Between graffiti, theft and smashed windows, it doesn’t pay to own a property in this town."
During the crime wave the Mareeba Cricket club kiosk at Firth Park was broken into.
The PCYC Basketball hall was also broken into Walsh Street on Tuesday. It’s believed that the back door was broken into and then the thieves ripped the metal door off a cage and destroyed a drinks fridge
A spokesperson for the Mareeba Basketball Association said “They came in just to steal soft drink, they smashed all the glass on the fridge and all they took was a few cans of soft drink,” they said.
“As a committee, it’s been really hard, we didn’t have a comp last year due to COVID. Now getting started again for 2021 this has just made our job harder.
“Cleaning up there was glass everywhere, and we will now have an AGM in February to see what we can do moving forward.
“Not only did they break into here they also broke into the theatre behind us as well.”
Over a four day period, the Mareeba Shire council lock-up car park was broken into and in a separate incident a Council ute had its windows smashed after being parked at the Rankin Street car park.
An MSC vehicle that was vandalised last week.
There was also reported damage at the Mareeba primary school.
According to a police spokesperson “Six youths aged between 11 and 15 have been dealt with under the provisions of the youth justice act, in relation to the damage at the primary school only.”
The spokesperson also said they are unsure if all the break-ins were connected and investigations are continuing.
