Queensland Police Service confirms investigation at Boyne Smelter Limited regarding alleged copper theft

Queensland Police Service has confirmed it is investigating alleged copper thefts at one of Gladstone’s biggest industrial sites. Read about it here.

Bombshell claims have rocked a pillar of Gladstone’s industrial backbone, with Boyne Smelter Limited aware of alleged copper thefts from its Boyne Island facility by three employees.

A Rio Tinto spokesman said BSL was providing its full support to the investigation, with one alleged theft occurring between late April and early July and the other in October.

“We can confirm Queensland Police are investigating the alleged theft of material from BSL and we will provide full support to the investigation,” the spokesman said.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said two men, a 37-year-old from Bargara and a 36 year-old from Boyne Island were charged with one count each of stealing by clerk and fraud – dishonesty obtain property.

“The third man, a 37-year-old from Miriam Vale, was also charged with the same offences except he had two counts of each,” the spokeswoman said.

QPS was unaware of the monetary value of the copper which was stolen from the BSL site.

All three are men expected to appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 7.