Police warning as rise in vehicle theft across Limestone Coast — including a fire truck

Police have issued a lock-up warning as nearly 20 cars, trucks and quad bikes - including this fire engine - have been stolen by heartless thieves.

The Mitsubishi fire truck was stolen from a business site on Marte Siding Road, Compton. Picture: SAPOL

A fire truck is one of nearly 20 cars, trucks or pieces of farm equipment that have been stolen in a month across the Limestone Coast, with police warning people to lock up.

Two people have been arrested over motor vehicle thefts in the region, police say.

Eighteen vehicles, including farm equipment, utes, quad bikes and a decommissioned fire truck have been stolen since late April across Mount Gambier, Kingston SE and Naracoorte

Police do not believe the thefts are linked but are “opportunistic”.

The spate began about 6pm on April 22, when a red quad bike was stolen from a dairy farm on Megaw Rd, Compton, in Mount Gambier.

The quad bike was stolen from a dairy farm on Megaw Road, Compton. Picture: Facebook

Owners of the bike said a young man and woman – “possibly teenagers” – were spotted riding down Cafpirco Rd about 20 minutes after the theft.

The pair were followed but eventually lost along the Mount Gambier rail lands behind the BMX track. It is yet be recovered.

Then on 9am on April 28, a Mitsubishi fire truck was stolen from a business on Marte Siding Rd, Compton.

The stolen truck is a red decommissioned 2000 Mitsubishi fire truck fitted with aluminium sliding compartments, roof trays, a red fire hose and complete with distinctive ‘Queensland Fire and Rescue’ decals. It is also yet to be found.

Last week, a 2002 Rodeo ute belonging to a 19-year-old part-time uni student was stolen from outside his girlfriend’s home in the Mount Gambier city centre area.

The mother of the girlfriend, Elle Hood, said she and her husband woke up around 3am the night of the theft to the sound of a diesel engine starting and checked on the cars in their driveway but forgot to check for the ute on the street as well.

She said she initially assumed the 19-year-old had taken his ute to work in the morning but later realised that wasn’t the case and had to text the teenager to let them know his ute had been stolen.

“We were very angry and very sorry for Zeke, it shouldn’t have happened, the people who took it clearly don’t have any morals,” Ms Hood said.

The ute was found a few days later by police in an “OK” condition, Ms Hood said, but it had been spray-painted, tagged, had a couple of things stolen from inside it and the accelerator damaged - a costly and upsetting inconvenience for the 19-year-old.

The day before, a trailer attached to a vehicle parked at the Mount Gambier Library carpark, and its contents, were also stolen.

At the weekend in Kingston SE, a grey Ford ute was stolen sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The 2002 Rodeo ute was stolen last week. Picture: Facebook

Police say of the 18 vehicles stolen over the past month, seven had been recovered with three of those found burnt out.

Much of the farm equipment was accessible in outdoor areas or insecure sheds, police said.

“Unfortunately, many of these vehicles were left unlocked and the keys left either in or with the vehicle,” a spokesperson said.

“Limestone Coast Police remind all vehicle owners that the majority of vehicle thefts are by opportunistic thieves.”

Two people have been arrested as police continue to investigate the spate of thefts — a 28-year-old Mount Gambier man and a teenager over separate incidents.

The man was arrested on May 9 over the theft of a LandCruiser ute from a Tantanoola paddock on May 4. The vehicle was located in a different area on the property. He was charged with illegal use and unlawfully on premises.

A 16-year-old Mount Gambier boy has been charged with illegal use and making off without payment after a Holden Commodore station wagon was stolen overnight between May 7 and May 8 from Vansittart Rd, Mount Gambier.

“(Sometime later) the stolen vehicle attended a service station on the Dukes Highway, Keith. Here occupants filled the car with petrol and left without making payment,” police said.

The boy was arrested on May 10 and bailed to appear in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in July.

The stolen vehicle was located in Morphett Vale on May 13.

A $100,000 bobcat excavator was stolen in early March.

Police said investigations were continuing and anyone with information was encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.