‘U loot, we shoot’: Bushfire ravaged communities band together against looters

Residents have joined forces to discourage looters from taking advantage of their bushfire-ravaged towns.

The bushfire ravaged town of South Durras have left a brutal message for looters beside their community notice board.

South Durras residents have said they will use wood-chippers, boats and even a crab pot on would-be looters.

A South Durras resident who did not want to be named told news.com.au why looters should be afraid of such a threat.

The "South D crew" issues a graphic warning to looters.

“The idea is chip the looters like you mulch branches in a wood chipper, then go out in the boat and put the chipped looter bits into crabpots as bait…” the resident told news.com.au.

The sign reads: “To looters.

“We will not let you steal from us.

“If you come you will not go back.

“We have a woodchipper, crab pots and boats.

“You have been warned.

“We are vigilant.

“The South D crew.”

The sign was found at South Durras Road, at the Durras Lake Road turnoff, yesterday.

South Durras is along NSW’s south coast, one of the areas hit the hardest by bushfires this season.

South Durras was evacuated. Those that remained were told it was too late to leave as a firestorm drew near.

Bushfire ravaged residents of Conjola Park are also taking a stand against looters, with a sign found by the road on Sunday that read: “U (sic) loot, we shoot.”

Conjola Park, along NSW’s south coast, was ravaged by fires on New Year’s Day, with more than 50 properties destroyed.

A sign discourages looters near Conjola Park, NSW. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AAP

Houses are flattened at Conjola Park, Australia, after recent wildfires ravaged the community. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AAP

A truck burnt out at Conjola Park, NSW. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AAP

When a picture of the sign was uploaded to Facebook, other bushfire survivors thought it was an “excellent” idea.

“I will gladly pay for more signs,” one wrote.

“Excellent sign. shd (sic) be posted everywhere … way too many low life thieving pieces of sh*t around. and unfortunately lots live amongst us everyday …” another commented.

When NSW Police was asked about Conjola’s sign, they said looting would not be tolerated but neither would acts of violence towards alleged looters.

Police reminded Conjola residents not to take the law into their own hands and that there are extra police on duty in the area.

RELATED: Bushfire survivor’s home targeted by heartless looters

A car burnt out at Conjola Park, NSW. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AAP

NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said on Saturday he was “disgusted” by looters using the bushfires for personal gain.

“People in these areas have already lost members of their communities, seen property destroyed and suffered emotional turmoil from the recent fire activity.

“They do not need the added stress of looters stealing what little they might have left!”

He said both uniformed and plainclothes police are patrolling fire ravaged areas – and they have aerial surveillance support.

“With thousands of lives and homes at risk today, I can’t comprehend the type of person who’d think it’s OK to try and profit or benefit at other people’s expense,” he said in a statement.

NSW Police Force has urged the Conjola community to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Originally published as ‘U loot, we shoot’: Bushfire ravaged communities band together against looters