Cairns has been left shaken after a two‑day stolen‑car rampage that saw three vehicles allegedly taken from Earlville, Parramatta Park and Edmonton before being driven dangerously through multiple suburbs.
Police tracked the cars with Polair and used a tyre‑deflation device in the CBD to stop one of the vehicles, arresting four boys soon after. The other stolen cars were later found in Bungalow and Portsmith.
The incident has pushed community frustration to boiling point, with residents calling for a courthouse protest and some online posts even suggesting vigilante action — a move Newscorp reports police are strongly warning against.
The charged teens, aged 15 to 17, are facing multiple counts including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and dangerous operation of a vehicle. An 18‑year‑old man was also arrested in connection with the spree.
The arrests come as Cairns continues to battle rising vehicle thefts, with at least 64 cars stolen this month alone and 395 since the start of 2026.
