Three men have been charged by Queensland Police over the alleged theft of more than 100 kilograms of copper from a Dalby power station on 1 August.
Police will allege the men entered a power station on Grahams Road sometime between 5.30pm and midnight, before stealing more than 100 kilograms of copper.
As part of ongoing investigations, police executed an emergent search at a Dalby address on 4 August, where officers allegedly located a quantity of stolen copper, and a quantity of methylamphetamine.
A 36-year-old Chinchilla man has been charged with one count each of receiving tainted property and possessing dangerous drugs.
A 32-year-old Dalby man has been charged with one count of receiving tainted property.
A 29-year-old Dalby man has been charged with one count of enter premises and commit an indictable offence.
All three men are due to appear before Dalby Magistrates Court on 6 October.
The arrests form part of Operation Cobre, targeting copper theft and offences involving the unlawful possession, transportation and disposal of stolen copper across the South West District.
South West District Detective Inspector Andrew Trenerry said the theft of copper from critical infrastructure had consequences that extended well beyond the immediate financial loss.
“Copper theft can significantly disrupt essential infrastructure, resulting in service interruptions, costly repairs and unnecessary impacts for the wider community,” Inspector Trenerry said.
“These offences place additional demands on infrastructure providers and emergency services, while diverting valuable resources that could otherwise be directed towards keeping our communities safe.”
“We will continue to work closely with industry partners to investigate these offences, identify those responsible and disrupt the unlawful trade of stolen copper. Anyone involved in stealing, receiving or facilitating the sale of stolen copper can expect to be held accountable.”
Police urge anyone with information relating to the alleged theft or the disposal of the stolen copper to contact police.
