A man's been charged following an alleged robbery and burglary at an Earlville retirement village.

Detectives last night charged a 20-year-old Earlville man, following investigations into several burglary incidents at an Earlville retirement village facility, one of which involved the alleged violent robbery of an elderly woman.

It will be alleged that on the night of March 22, entry was forced to three residential units at the Ishmael Road facility and attempts were made to force entry to an additional two units.

The male intruder allegedly confronted several of the elderly residents and requested money.

It will be further alleged that upon forcing entry to one of the units, he was confronted by a 72-year-old woman who asked him what he was doing. He then allegedly pushed the woman, causing her to fall to the floor and sustain an injury to her forearm.

The offender then stole a purse and cigarettes from the woman’s walker and left the unit. Police crews saturated the area however were unable to locate the offender. 

Subsequent investigations into the incidents led Cairns Property Crime Squad officers to a Sandown Close address at Woree just before 8pm last night, where a man was located and taken into custody.

He was charged with three counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary and one count of robbery with violence. The man is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court later this morning.