In a dramatic turn of events, a Queensland man named Paul Watts-Beaumont has been apprehended by police after being on the run for several weeks. The 21-year-old is allegedly linked to a wave of serious crimes, which include armed robberies, residential burglaries, and even vandalising a police vehicle.
Watts-Beaumont was arrested in Windsor, located in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, on Saturday night. He is suspected of being part of a gang that has targeted service station workers, with shocking incidents reported, such as an attack on a night shift employee in Thornlands and a subsequent armed hold-up at a station in Eagleby.
As part of the investigation, authorities have recovered 34 stolen vehicles, highlighting the extensive nature of the criminal activities linked to this group. Disturbingly, Watts-Beaumont is also accused of breaking into numerous properties, including that of a senior police officer.
Police have revealed that his record includes multiple charges, which comprise 12 counts of unlawfully using a motor vehicle, various burglary charges, and firearm possession offences. Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman has stated that these charges are likely just the beginning, as further evidence emerges from ongoing investigations.
CCTV footage from various locations is anticipated to yield additional charges against Watts-Beaumont and his associates. Law enforcement officials have also detained a 20-year-old woman from Morayfield, who now faces six charges related to these criminal activities.
The dramatic capture of Watts-Beaumont marks a significant milestone in the police’s pursuit of individuals involved in this spate of violence and property crimes across Queensland.