Sarah Martin, Cape York Weekly

Cape York police, including Sergeant Ken White, are urging locals to secure their homes and vehicles to help prevent a rise in crime in the community, following a spate of break-ins.

Two people have been charged and police are warning residents to lock it or lose it after another week of home invasions, burglary and fear for Cooktown locals.

The coastal community has been experiencing an unusual wave of crime this month, with four cars stolen, masked and armed intruders terrorising nurses in the Cooktown Hospital and multiple reports of thefts from homes and cars across town.

A woman in her 80s was left shaken after waking to find her bedside drawers and jewellery box opened and valuables missing, while another local woman is living in fear after five break-ins in a short period.

“Money has gone missing, drawers and cupboards are left open and my personal belongings have been gone through,” the resident, who did not want to be named, said. “I feel scared and violated.”

After the third break-in, she installed security cameras and last week rushed home from work with several colleagues after the camera showed the intruder in her house.

“He came in through the bedroom window and was still in the house when we arrived, and my colleague chased him down the street back to his house,” she said.

“Women living on their own should be extra vigilant as that is the type of victims he is known for preying on – he is an absolute cockroach.”

Police were called and a 32-year-old Cooktown man was charged but has been released on conditional bail.

The shaken woman praised the efforts of local police, who she said responded promptly.

Cooktown Officer in Charge, Senior Sergeant John McArthur, urged residents not to make it easy for criminals.

“In most cases the victims of recent property offences took security precautions,” he said.

“But it is important that it is not made easy for those who choose to commit these offences.

“It’s important to keep valuables, including car keys, in a location where they cannot be found by any potential offender.”

Police have also charged a 17-year-old boy with six counts of entering premises and stealing, in addition to wilful damage, stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter dwelling and commit, trespassing and attempted entering premises.

Senior Sergeant McArthur said the charges followed an alleged burglary rampage on Thursday, November 17.

The teenager appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court and, despite police objections, was granted conditional bail, including not being allowed to return to Cooktown.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 29 November 2022.