Latest news with #Caboolture
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Chilling discovery cops allegedly made in a panda backpack after raiding house of volunteer who worked with children
Children's underwear was allegedly discovered in a backpack after police raided a home and arrested a man accused of using his role as a volunteer to spy on kids. Queensland Police received a report in December that a man, 21, allegedly looked into bathrooms occupied by children at an event at a campground in Landsborough. Officers said further investigations found he had allegedly been looking into the bathroom multiple times since 2022 at the Sunshine Coast campsite. He also allegedly entered tents and stole children's underwear on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2024. 'Police will allege the man utilised his volunteer position as a group leader to gain access to children,' a Queensland Police spokesman said. 'It is alleged he committed numerous offences against children now aged between 13 to 16.' Detectives searched a home at Caboolture and arrested the 21-year-old on May 5 after allegedly seized multiple electronic devices and pairs of children's underwear. In footage from the arrest, police could be seen taking a panda backpack which contained the underwear. The man was subsequently charged with 28 sexual and property offences, 17 of which were for entering dwelling and commit. He also faced five counts of incident treatment of children under 16 (carer), five counts of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse, and one count of observations in breach of privacy. 'Due to the nature of the man's alleged offending, and the access he had to children over many years, we are conscious there may be further victims,' Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Gleeson said. 'We're appealing to witnesses or anyone that could assist this investigation to come forward.' He said those who believe they have been offended are encouraged to report their experience to the police. 'It is not your fault and you are not alone, there are multiple reporting and support options available to you,' he said. The sergeant also warned parents and guardians to speak to their children about appropriate behaviour - even from people they consider safe or trust. He also advised they inform children what to do if they feel uncomfortable and how they can report behaviour. The man is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 16.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- News.com.au
Man, 21, accused of using volunteer role to steal children's underwear, target children at campground, police allege
A camp leader has been charged with multiple sexual and property offences – with police alleging he looked into bathrooms, stole children's underwear and committed sexual offences against children at the camp. The 21-year-old Caboolture South man was arrested on Monday and charged with 28 serious sexual and property offences – following an extensive investigation by Sunshine Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) detectives. Police allege the man used his role as a volunteer group leader to gain access to children and committed multiple offences against victims now aged between 13 and 16. The charges stem from a report first received in December 2024, when police were told a man had been seen allegedly looking into bathrooms occupied by children at a Landsborough campground. Further investigations suggest the same man allegedly engaged in similar behaviour at the same campground multiple times since 2022. Further investigations revealed allegations the man had unlawfully entered tents and stolen children's underwear on multiple occasions throughout 2023 and 2024. On May 5, CPIU detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Caboolture, allegedly seizing multiple electronic devices for forensic examination. Several pairs of children's underwear were also allegedly seized. The man was arrested the same day and charged with 17 counts of enter dwelling and commit, five counts of indecent treatment of children under 16 (carer), five counts of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse, and one count of observations in breach of privacy. He is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 16. In body-worn camera footage released by Queensland Police, the man appears visibly distressed, raising his hands to his face as officers inform him of the charges. In another scene, detectives search a bedroom and uncover a panda-shaped backpack containing clothes. Sunshine Coast CPIU Officer in Charge, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Grant Gleeson, urged anyone with further information or who may have had similar interactions with the accused to come forward. 'Due to the nature of the man's alleged offending, and the access he had to children over many years, we are conscious there may be further victims that are yet to report incidents to police,' Sergeant Gleeson said. 'We're appealing to witnesses or anyone that could assist this investigation to come forward. 'And if you believe you have been offended against, I also encourage you to report your experience to police. 'It is not your fault and you are not alone, there are multiple reporting and support options available to you. 'We encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about appropriate behaviour, even from people considered safe or trusted adults in their life, and what to do if they feel uncomfortable about any behaviour and how they can report that behaviour.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Camp leader spied on bathroom, stole underwear: police
A volunteer leader has been accused of spying on children in a bathroom and stealing their underwear at a campground for years. The 21-year-old Caboolture South man has been charged with almost 30 offences after allegedly targeting children now aged between 13 to 16 at the Sunshine Coast site from 2022. However police on Monday said there may be more children who have not yet reported incidents. Police received a report that a man was looking into bathrooms occupied by children during an event at the Landsborough camp site in December 2024. An investigation found the man had been looking into the camp site bathroom multiple times since 2022, police said. He also entered tents and stole children's underwear from 2023 to 2024 at the campground, police allege. "Police will allege the man utilised his volunteer position as a group leader to gain access to children," a police statement said. Detectives searched a Caboolture home on May 5 and seized multiple pairs of children's underwear, police said. Police on Monday released video of their investigation, with officers opening up a panda-shaped bag with underwear inside during their search of a Sunshine Coast residence. The man was arrested on May 5 and charged with a string of offences including five counts of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse. "Due to the nature of the man's alleged offending, and the access he had to children over many years, we are conscious there may be further victims that are yet to report incidents to police," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Grant Gleeson said. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who can help to come forward. "If you believe you have been offended against, I also encourage you to report your experience to police," Det Gleeson said. "It is not your fault and you are not alone. There are multiple reporting and support options available to you." "We encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about appropriate behaviour, even from people considered safe or trusted adults in their life, and what to do if they feel uncomfortable about any behaviour and how they can report that behaviour." The 21-year-old man is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 16.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Qld family moves to afford first home
Rob and Jacinta Orth have gone from shelling out thousands of dollars a week in rent during Covid to finally having a home to call their own. The couple were renting on the Sunshine Coast when the pandemic hit, but were soon priced out of the area. 'We got smashed pretty hard when there were no houses available to rent,' Mr Orth said. 'We had to stay in holiday apartments and Airbnbs, and we were paying up to $2000 a week. 'If we didn't have a newborn baby, we would have slept in cars. 'Then we did get a house, but they kept upping the rent.' The Orths moved to Caboolture chasing affordable rent while saving to buy a home. Last month the couple, who have four children, were able to buy a fixer-upper in Caboolture for $640,000. 'Buying the home was a pure fluke,' Mr Orth said. 'We were driving by and saw it was an open house, so we thought we'd come in and sort of practice trying to buy a home. 'We put in a bid in, not thinking we'd get it, but we did.' 'Tangible relief': rate cut imminent Mr Orth said saving for a deposit in a constantly shifting market was the hardest part of getting onto the property ladder. 'We started saving pre-Covid, but house prices just kept going up,' he said. 'We had to bite the bullet and get into the market, because if we kept waiting we would need to keep saving more and more.' Now the couple have a mortgage, they are hoping for a rate cut come May 20. 'My oath, that would be lovely,' Mr Orth said. 'Just paying interest alone is $750 a week. 'Any savings we get from a rate cut, we'll be able to put back into the principal.' Mr Orth said considering a drop in interest rates may result in prices surging further, he was relieved they had managed to buy now. 'If that happened, we couldn't buy in Caboolture,' he said 'I was already preparing to move further out to around Kilcoy, travel for work and change the kids' school before we managed to get this house.' Mr Orth, a carpenter and electrician said he and his wife chose an older property on a big block so they could add value to it. 'We're turning it into the house we want,' he said. 'You have to do it that with how the market is – you can't buy the house you want if you want a decent yard, too. 'Our goal is to bring the value of house up, so if the market does go down we're still paying a good price for the house.'
