Fifth man charged over alleged looting in flood-devastated Mid North Coast
Officers stopped a man in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 31, on Stevenson Street at Taree and say a search of the man's effects allegedly uncovered a string of suspected stolen items.
Police say they found a television, vacuum cleaner, a slew of other electrical items and jewellery during the search, and also alleged the man was carrying methylamphetamine.
The 45-year-old was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged over the alleged drugs possession, carrying items suspected to have been stolen, and carrying "housebreaking implements".
He was refused bail and faced Paramatta Local Court on Saturday via video-link where he was granted bail and ordered to return to Taree Local Court on June 17.
The latest charges come after Police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell warned on Monday, May 26, that increased numbers of officers would patrol flood-devastated areas for looters in the wake of record-breaking rainfall over the past fortnight.
"The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace," Mr Thurtell said.
"Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian."
A fifth man has been charged with looting after historic flooding inundated the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
Officers stopped a man in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 31, on Stevenson Street at Taree and say a search of the man's effects allegedly uncovered a string of suspected stolen items.
Police say they found a television, vacuum cleaner, a slew of other electrical items and jewellery during the search, and also alleged the man was carrying methylamphetamine.
The 45-year-old was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged over the alleged drugs possession, carrying items suspected to have been stolen, and carrying "housebreaking implements".
He was refused bail and faced Paramatta Local Court on Saturday via video-link where he was granted bail and ordered to return to Taree Local Court on June 17.
The latest charges come after Police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell warned on Monday, May 26, that increased numbers of officers would patrol flood-devastated areas for looters in the wake of record-breaking rainfall over the past fortnight.
"The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace," Mr Thurtell said.
"Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian."
A fifth man has been charged with looting after historic flooding inundated the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
Officers stopped a man in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 31, on Stevenson Street at Taree and say a search of the man's effects allegedly uncovered a string of suspected stolen items.
Police say they found a television, vacuum cleaner, a slew of other electrical items and jewellery during the search, and also alleged the man was carrying methylamphetamine.
The 45-year-old was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged over the alleged drugs possession, carrying items suspected to have been stolen, and carrying "housebreaking implements".
He was refused bail and faced Paramatta Local Court on Saturday via video-link where he was granted bail and ordered to return to Taree Local Court on June 17.
The latest charges come after Police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell warned on Monday, May 26, that increased numbers of officers would patrol flood-devastated areas for looters in the wake of record-breaking rainfall over the past fortnight.
"The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace," Mr Thurtell said.
"Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian."
A fifth man has been charged with looting after historic flooding inundated the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
Officers stopped a man in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 31, on Stevenson Street at Taree and say a search of the man's effects allegedly uncovered a string of suspected stolen items.
Police say they found a television, vacuum cleaner, a slew of other electrical items and jewellery during the search, and also alleged the man was carrying methylamphetamine.
The 45-year-old was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged over the alleged drugs possession, carrying items suspected to have been stolen, and carrying "housebreaking implements".
He was refused bail and faced Paramatta Local Court on Saturday via video-link where he was granted bail and ordered to return to Taree Local Court on June 17.
The latest charges come after Police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell warned on Monday, May 26, that increased numbers of officers would patrol flood-devastated areas for looters in the wake of record-breaking rainfall over the past fortnight.
"The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace," Mr Thurtell said.
"Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian."
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