Robert Dyna in court after huge allegedly stolen haul uncovered in police sting at Burton

A man has appeared in court on drug and theft charges after up to $1m worth of “stolen” goods – including antique horse buggies – were uncovered in a major police sting.

Up to $1m worth of allegedly stolen goods – including antique horse-drawn carriages – and a clandestine drug lab have been uncovered in shipping containers in a major police sting in the northern suburbs.

Police uncovered the massive haul at an industrial site on Waterloo Corner Rd at Burton in shipping containers – some stacked three high – on Wednesday morning.

Inside almost 20 containers and onsite, detectives found allegedly stolen property including bobcats, cars, trucks, trailers and other items.

Up to $1m worth of allegedly stolen goods have been uncovered by police in Burton. Picture: SA Police

The items were uncovered inside almost 20 shipping containers. Picture: SA Police

Robert Dyna, 41, who was living at the property inside a shipping container in “makeshift” accommodation, was arrested and charged.

He was refused police bail and faced Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon charged with trafficking in a controlled drug, and four counts of dishonestly taking property without consent, making a bid for home detention bail.

However, prosecution told the court further items had been uncovered at the scene that could make Mr Dyna a prescribed applicant and could “render the charges more serious”.

Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith remanded Mr Dyna in custody and ordered a home detention report, which will take seven days to return - the time estimated by SAPOL to investigate the approximately 5000 sqm site.

An antique horse-drawn carriage was amongst the haul. Picture: SA Police

Northern District operations manager Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken told media police obtained and executed a search warrant on Wednesday morning after attending the industrial site to investigate unrelated property theft.

“(It was) some good investigative police work in relation to some property inquiries they were conducting unrelated to this event,” he said.

“However, it led to revealing a warrant being required to enter the premises lawfully and then subsequently finding the amount of property we have here.”

A business owner who rents part of the industrial site reported a man to police on Monday, with concerns he had been stealing property from the site.

He was also reported on January 29.

The allegedly stolen property included bobcats, cars, trucks, trailers and other items. Picture: SA Police

One man has been arrested. Picture: SA Police

A clandestine laboratory was also discovered onsite. Picture: SA Police

An employee of the transport business said several cars came in and out of the property every night.

“The volume is significant,” Chief Inspector McCracken said.

Chief Inspector McCracken said police were now in the “reconnaissance” phase of the operation to determine who the items belonged to, where they were stolen from, and when.

Police suspect entire shipping containers may have been stolen.

“At the moment, I’d like to call this what we call the reconnaissance phase due to the vast volume of property that is contained behind here,” Chief Inspector McCracken said.

“Police are currently doing a search in groups, methodically, to thoroughly investigate and locate the owners of property.”

Chief Inspector McCracken said he believed the property had been stolen over a significant period of time.

“It’s clearly taken some time to get to this stage, given the volume and the ability to move such volume would take some time.”

Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken at a site in Burton, north of Adelaide, where a large haul of stolen property was discovered by police. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Police also discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab at the property.

Detectives were expected to remain onsite for several days.

Chief Inspector McCracken said police would cast a wide net to identify where items were stolen from.

“There were some maritime forklifts, for example, and other very heavy equipment which suggests it had come from some sort of a nautical place like maybe Port Adelaide,” he said.

“We’ll need to investigate that more fully and thoroughly to try and get an idea but just the volume and type of equipment, they would be across the state of South Australia I suspect.”

Chief Inspector McCracken said police were not seeking any other suspects at this stage.

He asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers to help return property to owners.