Ilbilbie man Luke Darby Cranston charged with arson and burglary of $1.8m home, theft of fire truck

A photo of a young man who allegedly helped take gold bullion from a $1.8m Qld home before torching it and stole and damaged a rural fire truck can be revealed along with new details about the case.

Luke Darby Cranston is facing charges over a horror incident in late 2023 that resulted in a financial loss totalling more than $500,000. He is also charged with allegedly stealing an Isuzu NPS 3007 fire truck and Nissan Patrol rural fire vehicle and causing up to $350,000 in damage in November 2023.

Outstanding DNA reports and a statement from an alleged witness are delaying the case against a young Ilbilbie man accused of ransacking and setting fire to a $1.8m home and stealing and damaging a rural fire truck during bushfire season – with the total financial loss allegedly exceeding $1.3m.

A photo of Luke Darby Cranston, as he is leaving Mackay Magistrates Court on October 22, is being published for the first time.

Police allege the 23-year-old and others broke into a Mackay region mansion in late 2023 and caused a financial loss totalling more than $900,000, including stealing $200,000 in gold bullion, $50,000 in cash, guns and ammunition and jewellery after getting into a locked safe on September 2.

A vehicle was taken and driven to Mia Mia Connection Rd and set on fire — it was completely destroyed.

It is further alleged Mr Cranston and another returned to the home on September 3 when the property was doused with petrol and set on fire.

Luke Darby Cranston is facing charges over a horror incident in late 2023 that resulted in a financial loss totalling more than $500,000. He is also charged with allegedly stealing an Isuzu NPS 3007 fire truck and Nissan Patrol rural fire vehicle and causing up to $350,000 in damage in November 2023.

As a result of extensive police investigations Mr Cranston was charged with two counts each of arson (structure and vehicle) and enter dwelling and commit, stealing from a locked receptacle and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The owners had been overseas, and CCTV captured the alleged offending.

Mr Cranston is also facing multiple other charges related to the alleged break and enter and theft of an Isuzu NPS 3007 fire truck and Nissan Patrol rural fire vehicle, allegedly causing up to $350,000 in damage in November 2023.

It is alleged he broke into the Sarina Marlborough Rural Fire Brigade on October 31 and the Victoria Plains Rural Fire Brigade on November 4.

When police raided a Sarina home on November 5 officers seized emergency lights allegedly from the Isuzu truck hidden at the Keilbach Ct property.

Luke Darby Cranston, 23, is facing a raft of charges including the break and enter and theft of an Isuzu NPS 3007 fire truck and Nissan Patrol rural fire vehicle.

It is further alleged police found the stolen truck covered by a tarpaulin at an unoccupied property on Marlborough Sarina Rd at Sarina Range.

The charged were briefly mentioned on Tuesday when his lawyer Rob Beamish, of McKay’s Solicitors, told the court he was still awaiting the final DNA report and a statement from an alleged co offender who named Mr Cranston in the alleged mansion robbery.

When prompted by Magistrate Damien Dwyer, the prosecution indicated the arresting officer did not think it was part of the brief of evidence.

“It’s part of the brief, there’s nothing more important,” Mr Dwyer said.

The case was adjourned to later this month for that statement to be delivered to Mr Cranston’s solicitor.

Mr Beamish said he had received an interim DNA report at this stage, but the court heard there would be a review of all matters involving outstanding DNA analysis in mid-December.