Heartless looters preying on flood victims are slammed as ‘grubs’ – as a 21-year-old is arrested and top cop delivers a scathing message to thieves
- Homes in flood-affected areas of south-east Queensland have been looted
- The looting was confirmed by police on Tuesday morning, man, 21, was arrested
- Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan has referred to the thieves as ‘grubs’
Queensland’s top cop has slammed looters targeting homes in flood-affected areas of Queensland.
Police confirmed on Tuesday morning that homes in the south-west Brisbane suburbs of Bundamba, Goodna and Blackstone had been hit by thieves.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested over one incident.
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan, who appeared visibly angry at a press conference, proceeded to slam the burglars as ‘grubs’.
Heartless looters preying on flood victims are slammed as ‘grubs’ as 21-year-old is arrested and top cop delivers a scathing message
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday morning that evacuated properties in the south-west Brisbane suburbs of Bundamba, Goodna and Blackstone were targeted. Pictured: A submerged home in Goodna
‘Let me put this as politely as I can to those people who are engaged in this behaviour. What you are doing is not just illegal, but you are also grubs,’ he said.
‘You are preying on the most vulnerable Queenslanders at a time of their most vulnerable.’
The Minister then disowned the thieves as fellow Queenslanders.
‘You’re not even Queenslanders when you engage in this behaviour because Queenslanders help their mates and Queenslanders support their mates, and if you’re thieving from them, you are not a Queenslander, you are a grub,’ he added.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also left astonished by the thieving in flood-affected areas and addressed the low act on Tuesday.
‘I cannot believe that people would go to such depths,’ she said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also left astonished by the thieving in flood-affected areas and addressed the low act on Tuesday
The Premier said the looting was ‘unbelievable’ and demanded that the burglars stop their actions immediately. Pictured: Submerged homes in Goodna
‘These are people that are going through the hardships of their lives. The last thing they need to worry about is someone climbing into their house or going through their front door, going through their possessions.’
The Premier said the looting was ‘unbelievable’ and demanded that the burglars stop their actions immediately.
One man has been arrested for ransacking properties, while investigations are ongoing for two other incidences of theft.
Eight people have died and hundreds have been rescued from floodwaters which have so far damaged at least 19,000 homes and won’t fully recede for days in Queensland and New South Wales.
Major flooding is under way on the Brisbane, Logan, Bremer and Mary rivers, and Warrill Creek after the torrential downpours of the past week.
More than 1.77m of rain fell on Mount Glorious, 1.55m at Pomona on the Sunshine Coast and 1.23m at Upper Springbrook on the Gold Coast in seven days.
Brisbane copped 795mm – the city’s wettest week since records began in 1840 – with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying much of the wider region is devastated.
Brisbane copped 795mm – the city’s wettest week since records began in 1840 – with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying much of the wider region is devastated
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