Rescue chopper used to track stolen car over Port Douglas and Julatten

POLICE

Karlie Brady

Journalist

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Last updated:
The rescue helicopter was used to help track a stolen 2017 blue Volkswagen Amarok.

UPDATE: 

Thanks to the assistance of members of public, the vehicle has been located in bush land off the Mossman Mount Molloy Road at Julatten. 

EARLIER:

Police are calling on the public for information in the search for a stolen vehicle believed to have been left abandoned in the Mt Molloy Julatten area after it was involved in a police pursuit that saw the rescue helicopter deployed on Friday night.

Police have charged a 28-year-old Mt Molloy man and a 26-year-old Edmonton man in relation to the stolen vehicle.

A police spokesperson said a 2017 blue Amarok utility was allegedly stolen from Parramatta Park in Cairns on 6 April and was spotted in Port Douglas by an off-duty police officer on Friday.

“Police have then coordinated a search for the vehicle with the assistance of the rescue helicopter,” the spokesperson said.

“The vehicle has then driven up towards Julatten and police resources have gone up there.”

Occasionally when the rescue helicopter is available police will engage its services for air support.

The pair have then allegedly abandoned the ute somewhere in the Mt Molloy Julatten area.

Police stayed in the area for a number of hours looking for the offenders and managed to locate them at a Mossman-Mt Molloy Road, Julatten property, several hours later.

“The 28-year-old Mt Malloy man was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of stealing, wilful damage, and entering a premise,” the police spokesperson said.

“The 26-year-old Edmonton man was charged with two counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle and two counts of breaching bail.”

Mt Molloy police are urging property owners to keep watch for the vehicle.

“The vehicle could be anywhere in the Mt Molloy Julatten area. Please be vigilant and report any sightings of the 2017 blue Amarok utility to Policelink on 131444,” police said.

“It’s believed this vehicle is hidden from view and maybe on a bush track or property in a secluded location."

This operation was part of a weekend blitz across the greater Cairns area ran by police from Friday to Sunday targeting high priority property offenders.

Officers from the Property Crime Squad and Tactical Crime Squad combined forces to run the intensive three-day operation.

The Intelligence driven operation was led by experienced investigators and tactical responders resulting in the arrest of 13 high priority offenders on 36 charges.

Over 30 cars have been stolen in the Cairns area already this month, those charged over the weekend are responsible for a large number of those thefts with 15 charges laid for unlawful use of a motor vehicle.


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