A man and a woman have been charged after a break and enter at a Townsville TAFE campus earlier this week. Queensland Police allege the pair forced entry into the Douglas campus on Tuesday night, stealing several electronic items and causing significant damage to the property.
Incident Details
Police were called to the TAFE Queensland campus on Fulham Road around 10:30 pm on Tuesday, following reports of a security breach. Upon arrival, officers found evidence of forced entry through a rear door. A subsequent search of the premises revealed that multiple classrooms had been ransacked, with laptops, projectors, and other audio-visual equipment missing.
The estimated value of the stolen goods is yet to be determined, but police have confirmed that the damage to doors and locks is substantial. The investigation led to the arrest of a 34-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, both from the Townsville area, later that night.
Charges Laid
The man has been charged with one count of burglary and commit indictable offence, enter with intent, and stealing. He was also charged with drug possession after police allegedly found a small amount of cannabis in his possession. The woman faces charges of burglary and commit indictable offence, and receiving tainted property. Both appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody to reappear next week.
Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers. TAFE Queensland has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
Community Impact
The break-in has caused disruption to classes at the Douglas campus, with some rooms temporarily closed for repairs. A TAFE spokesperson said that alternative arrangements have been made for affected students, and that security measures are being reviewed. Local residents have expressed concern about the incident, with some calling for increased police patrols in the area.
This incident is part of a recent spate of break-ins targeting educational institutions in North Queensland. Police have reminded business and property owners to ensure their security systems are up to date.
