Jimboomba Police have charged three teenagers with 234 offences after a four-month vandalism spree at Flagstone and Jimboomba ended in arrest on September 11.
Police believe a 18-year-old Cedar Grove man, a 19-year-old Jimboomba man and a 19-year-old Jimboomba woman were spurred on to commit more crimes after the vandalism spree gained social media notoriety.
The teens allegedly slashed tyres, burnt bins, broke windows and trespassed on private property and school grounds between May and August.
Emmaus College, Jimboomba State School and Hills International College were targeted during the vandalism spree, including one incident at Hills when a tin of food and books were placed in a microwave.
The incident sparked a fire which damaged two classrooms.
Charges for the trio included willful damage by fire, willful damage to vehicles, unlawful entry and trespass.
The Cedar Grove man was charged with 104 offences and the 19-year-old female was charged with 25 offences.
The Jimboomba man was charged with 105 offences including a separate charge of possessing a knife in a public place.
Jimboomba Police Sergeant Rob Duncan thanked the community for its assistance, particularly a call on September 10 from a resident that enabled police to catch the trio.
“We had a call from a concerned resident about two suspicious people in Flagstone and we were able to locate the two males,” he said.
“The dog track lead to a knife and a further dog track located the female. They have made full admissions to police.”
Sergeant Duncan said police were seeking compensation for thousands of dollars worth of damage caused to residents and schools by the offenders.
The Criminal Investigation Branch was involved in the investigation. The trio faced Beaudesert Magistrates Court on September 21 and will return later this year.
Police would not reveal a date for the next hearing due to threats made towards the trio.
