Brazen thieves targeting North Queensland sugar mills in a series of audacious raids netted $60,000 in stolen property. See the exclusive video and photos.
Brazen thieves targeting North Queensland sugar mills in a series of audacious raids that have netted $60,000 in stolen property have been captured on video but remain on the run.
Ingham Criminal Investigation Branch is appealing for information after two vehicles allegedly involved in the theft of $10,000 worth of heavy duty electrical cable from Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Macknade Mill in Herbert River were captured on police dash-cam early Thursday, June 1.
One of the vehicles has been linked to a total of five break and enters targeting both Macknade Mill, Australia’s oldest, and Victoria Mill, Australia’s largest.
The suspects are believed to be from Townsville.
A Queensland Police Service patrol lights up a silver utility vehicle, possibly a Nissan Navara, driving without headlights following a burglary at Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Macknade Mill on the banks of the Herbert River.
Plain Clothes Constable Andy Kelly of Ingham Police CIB said officers from Ingham Station were patrolling Fulton Drive, Bemerside, between Macknade and the Bruce Highway when they passed a white Toyota Landcruiser and a second vehicle, likely a silver Nissan Navara, with its headlights off.
“As police turned around, the vehicles have driven off before police were able to attempt an intercept,” PCC Kelly said on Tuesday.
He said both vehicles travelled south on the Bruce Highway through Ingham and Toobanna toward Townsville.
Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Macknade Mill, Herbert River district, Hinchinbrook. Picture: Cameron Bates
The Macknade raid was the third of five burglaries in total with the remainder targeting Victoria Mill on the outskirts of Ingham.
The silver utility vehicle has been linked to all five incidents.
An image supplied by Queensland Police Service of a silver utility vehicle, possibly a Nissan Navara, allegedly involved in a brazen break and enter at Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Victoria Mill near Ingham early May 23.
PCC Kelly said the first break occurred at Victoria on May 6, with the silver utility vehicle entering the mill at 12.30am and remaining on the industrial property for two hours before escaping with $10,000 worth of electrical cable.
Images supplied by Queensland Police Service of a white truck allegedly involved in a brazen break and enter at Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Victoria Mill near Ingham early May 23.
He said the same vehicle and a white truck also made off with cable of a similar value from the same mill at 3.10am on Tuesday, May 23.
Both vehicles were captured on camera in grainy images, with the rear tray gate of the ute down to cover the registration plate.
An image supplied by Queensland Police Service of a silver utility vehicle loaded with $10,000 worth of cables from Victoria Mill during the latest brazen burglary at Victoria Mill on Saturday morning.
The investigator said that following the Macknade burglary between 10pm on May 31 and 5am on June 1, the thieves again targeted Victoria.
He said this time, the silver ute entered the mill via a cane road off New Cemetery Rd on Saturday, June 10, making off with a large brass bearing worth $20,000.
An image supplied by Queensland Police Service of a silver utility vehicle loaded with $10,000 worth of cables from Victoria Mill during the latest brazen burglary at Victoria Mill on Monday morning.
PCC Kelly said the vehicle was photographed in Townsville, still loaded with the bearing, at 11am on the same day.
In the most recent incident, the ute entered Victoria early Monday and escaped with $10,000 worth of cables.
An image supplied by Queensland Police Service of a silver utility vehicle allegedly involved in the theft of a $20,000 brass bearing from Victoria Mill early Saturday, June 10. The photo was taken in Townsville.
Wilmar has been contacted for comment.
PCC Kelly urged anyone with information to either contact Ingham Police directly, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or email Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
The reference number is QP2300768551.