General News
10 February, 2026
New unit to crack down on property crime
A SECOND police unit to crackdown on property crime and repeat offenders will be up and running this week on the Tablelands.
The new Tablelands Property Crime Unit is being established on the back of the success of the Cairns Property Crime Unit, which has played a critical role in disrupting serious property offending.
Since 1 January 2025, 1,229 people have been charged with 5,341 property crime-related offences across the Far Northern Region, with police targeting serious offenders responsible for property crime.
So far in 2026, the unit has charged 107 people with 475 offences.
One of those was a 26-year-old Atherton man who was arrested on 30 January after he allegedly entered a unit and assaulted a 67-year-old man and stole property from his home on 9 January.
He was charged with two counts of serious assault person over 60, and one count each of enter dwelling and commit, stealing, attempted enter premises and commit, and attempted stealing.
He was remanded in custody to appear in the Atherton Magistrates Court on 24 February.
The specialised property crime units will bring together detectives and plain-clothes officers working alongside the Far North Tactical Crime Squad, Far North Dog Squad, general duties police and POLAIR to disrupt offending and hold offenders to account.
In December, The Express published the 2025 crime statistics which showed that offences in Atherton had risen by 30% over the 12-month period, 1359 offences compared to 957 in 2024.
Car theft in Atherton nearly doubled, with 63 vehicles stolen last year compared to 32 the previous year.
Unlawful entry into properties was also significantly higher, with 222 recorded, up 85 on 2024 figures.
While Mareeba records more offences than its neighbouring town, 2025 saw decreases in unlawful entry into properties, dropping to 290, from 311 recorded in the previous 12-month period.
Unlawful use of motor vehicles was also less this year, with 83 stolen, compared to 87 last year.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the expansion of the Property Crime Unit to the Tablelands region demonstrated his government’s clear focus on community safety and backing police with the resources they needed.
“The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer by rebuilding the police frontline and making sure officers have the tools and specialist support required to tackle property crime head-on after Labor’s decade of decline,” he said.
“We are sending a clear message to offenders that if you steal cars, break into homes or terrorise communities, police will be there and you will be held accountable.
“By expanding successful units like the Property Crime Unit, we’re putting police in the right place at the right time and focusing resources where they will make the biggest difference.”
Far North District Acting Chief Superintendent Monique Ralph said having a new, dedicated unit targeting property crime on the Tablelands highlighted the Queensland Police Services’ commitment to community safety.
“We want to assure our community that officers are working tirelessly day and night to disrupt stolen vehicles and bring offenders before the court,” Acting Chief Superintendent Ralph said.
“These police live and work in this community and are dedicated to protecting it, as evident by the number of property crime charges preferred in the last year.
“The addition of a Tablelands Property Crime Unit will allow us to strategically place resources to target property offending, meaning police can be in the right place at the right time.”
