Dozens of street and tourist signs, roadwork equipment, and even a portaloo trailer were among the unusual haul that left Queensland Police scratching their heads when they uncovered the allegedly stolen goods.
Police raid uncovers bizarre collection
Police raided a property in Millaa Millaa, south of Cairns in Queensland's far north, earlier this month and discovered more than $50,000 worth of allegedly stolen property. The items ranged from power tools to a portaloo trailer, and even the Millaa Millaa lookout plaque.
Bodyworn footage captured officers' astonishment as they continued to find more signs. "Oh stop it. What? More signs? More signs," they can be heard saying.
Items seized
- Doors
- Fence panels
- Number plates
- Tourist and road signs
- Roadwork equipment
- Portable toilet trailer
The haul was seized by officers from Millaa Millaa and Malanda Stations, along with the Tablelands Property Crime Unit.
Police baffled by motive
Detective Inspector Tony Law described the case as "certainly one of the stranger ones that we've come across in recent times." He noted that the items had no resale value, leaving police puzzled about the motive. "There's no resale value in it. We don't know the reason why the individual accumulated all those signs," Law said.
Charges laid
A 40-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with 26 offences. The charges include:
- Thirteen counts of receiving tainted property
- Four counts of unlawful possession of a vehicle
- Three counts of possessing utensils
- Two counts each of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and possessing dangerous drugs
- One count each of contravening a domestic violence order and failing to dispose of a syringe
He was refused bail and remanded in custody, due to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on June 8.
Return of stolen property
The allegedly stolen property is now set to be returned to its rightful owners. "There is a positive side in regards to us seizing it and being able to return it to the councils and the governments that they belong to," Law said.
