Home Bike News Rides Other Stuff Events Tech Links Adults Only
Police and members of the Gypsy Jokers chat on the Nicklin Way, in front of Kawana Shoppingworld.
Brett Wortman
EVERYWHERE else they visited, the Gypsy Jokers' movements were closely monitored.
But when a small group of the outlaw bikies hit the Sunshine Coast as part of their national run yesterday, it took police a while to track them down.
In fact, a spokesman initially said there was no information to suggest they were even here.
"And we certainly wouldn't report on their every move," the police media spokesman said.
All that changed by early afternoon, when police began receiving reports of sightings - firstly at Australia Zoo and later on the Nambour-Bli Bli Rd.
That sparked a call to police units to watch for the riders but not approach them.
By 2.20pm, the elusive bikies had still not been located, despite police checking popular watering holes in the area.
Ten minutes later, there were suggestions they were heading for Sunshine Plaza.
Then it was Mooloolaba via Alexandra Headland.
But somehow they remained elusive, dropping off the radar until 5pm when police stopped a group of about eight riders on the Nicklin Way, in front of Kawana Shoppingworld.
RBT, drug-testing, licence and registration checks soon followed as police units continued to arrive, until witnesses said there were more blue uniforms than leather jackets.
There were no reports of any riders being charged and witnesses said the situation seemed amicable.
"They seemed friendly enough," one witness said.
It was all a far cry from earlier in the day, when dozens of marked and unmarked police cars, 4WDs and motorbikes surrounded a group of about 80 Gypsy Jokers between their Everton Hills clubhouse and Dayboro.
Three members of the club were charged with drug-driving, triggering a tense stand-off between police and dozens of gang members.
Members are tipped to take to the roads en masse in the next few days.
The gang is active in most states but has only a small presence in Queensland, prompting police concerns the gang hopes to establish a foothold here.