April 13, 2026
Police have arrested and charged four people – and are searching for another two – after a spike in car thefts and property crime in Murgon, Wondai and Cherbourg at the weekend.
At a media conference in Murgon on Monday afternoon, Assistant Police Commissioner for the Southern Region, Matthew Vanderbyl, said five vehicles had been stolen.
These had then been driven “lawlessly and dangerously” around Cherbourg and Wondai.
“Many young people were in those cars, hanging out of windows and behaving in a really dangerous way; dangerous to other road users and other people in the community, not the least of which includes themselves,” AC Vanderbyl said.
This prompted police to initiate “Operation Martello II”, which included local detectives as well as officers from the Toowoomba Highway Patrol Unit and the Darling Downs District Tactical Crime Squad.
“We immediately surged another 12 to 14 police in as well as calling on our own local resources,” AC Vanderbyl said.
“Within 36 hours … we were able to arrest four – and identified six offenders – on 38 charges at the present time.”
Those arrested were a 18-year-old man and three teenagers. They were refused police bail.
“No one should have to put with the type of offending that we saw over the weekend,” AC Vanderbyl said.
Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy face charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises with intent, armed robbery, evading police, stealing and wilful damage. They were due to appear in Murgon Children’s Court on Monday.
The 18-year-old is due to appear in Murgon Magistrates Court on April 22 charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing.
AC Vanderbyl said the extra police would remain in Murgon on Monday night and the surge capacity would remain “into the days to come”.
He said police were heavily invested in the local community.
“A lot of our police live here. They also ‘get’ the angst and the upset and alarm that the community feels,” AC Vanderbyl said.
“They live in the community, their families live with them and in many cases their children go to school here.”
Senior police and AC Vanderbyl met with Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson, Deputy Mayor Gordon Wragge, CEO Chatur Zala, South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and local councillor Heath Sander on Monday morning, and were due to have more discussions with South Burnett councillors on Monday afternoon.
“We had a wide-ranging discussion where I again reinforced my commitment, given late last year, around this type of surge operation when crime spikes,” AC Vanderbyl said.
“But in addition we have agreed to work together … on a joint community information campaign where we are going to seek information from people right across the South Burnett.”
This would cover drug sales, drug supply and property crime in a “tell-us-what-you-know” type of operation. More information about this would released later.
AC Vanderbyl confirmed that investigations were continuing into the theft of a truck from a Murgon business last week. No one has been charged as yet over this incident.
- Related article: Three More Vehicles Stolen
The surge by police coincided by a call to action on social media by local Cr Heath Sander at the weekend, who said he was “investigating” a possible class action against the State Government for “failing to keep members of our community safe”.
Although praising the actions of police, Cr Sander alleged the government was failing in its “duty of care”.
He invited people who had been affected by crime in the South Burnett to contact him at Council.
On Monday, Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl urged people who wanted to share information about criminal activity to contact CrimeStoppers (1800-333-000) or Policelink (13-14-44) to speak to police directly.
