Rockhampton police investigate after break in at Australia Post Mail Centre

Police have charged a second man after up to hundreds of packages and mail items were allegedly stolen or tampered with after a group of people broke into the major mail sorting facility for Capricornia.

Rockhampton police are investigating after an Australia Post Mail Centre was broken into on the weekend.

Police have charged two men after hundreds of people across the Capricornia district unknowingly had packages and mail stolen in an alleged post office heist at the weekend.

Police are still looking for four or five others after the group allegedly broke into the Australia Post Mail Centre on the corner of Musgrave and Elphinstone streets in Berserker, Rockhampton.

Over a period of 13 hours the group allegedly came and went from the centre, opening mail and packages and taking what they wanted.

The mail centre is the main sorting centre for the Capricornia district, sorting and distributing mail for as far west as Winton.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley from Rockhampton Criminal Investigation Branch said the centre was first broken into at 7am on Saturday.

“A large amount of parcels, mail, etc has been opened and also stolen and an Australia Post vehicle was also stolen shortly after 9pm,” he alleged.

“At approximately 11.40pm Saturday night that vehicle was located burnt out at Parkhurst.”

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley from Rockhampton Criminal Investigation Branch.

Det Act Snr Sgt Mawdsley said it was very hard to get information about what kind of packages and mail were stolen or tampered with.

He said the group members were all wearing high visibility clothing during the alleged break in.

“It does appear there was a period of time where they’d leave and then re-enter the business,” he said.

“They appeared to disguise themselves as employees, wearing high visibility clothing so as to not draw attention to themselves.

“That day is the one day of the week the mail centre is closed.

“There certainly does seem to be a degree of planning in this particular offence, and that’s one of the things we’re looking into.”

Det Act Snr Sgt Mawdsley said investigations so far indicated youths were not believed to be involved, and that the alleged offenders were adults.

“It’s certainly very brazen and a degree of planning has been involved here, so we believe people will obviously know who these people are and would ask for them to contact Crimestoppers or Rockhampton police,” he said.

A 47-year-old North Rockhampton man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises and unrelated drug charges.

He was expected to face Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A 34-year-old Allenstown man was charged on Sunday night with enter premises and a number of other unrelated offences.

Police opposed his bail and he was expected to face Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday. He is next due to appear before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 27.

Det Act Snr Sgt Mawdsley said anyone who may have seen anything or has information for police are urged to contact them.

A spokesman for Australia Post said mail processing at the mail centre had not been affected and would be working with police during their investigations.

“Australia Post is currently supporting a Queensland Police Service investigation into a break in at our Rockhampton Mail facility,” the spokesman said.

“While mail processing operations were able to quickly return to normal, unfortunately a number of parcel items were taken during the break in. Australia Post will be working hard over the next few days to identify and contact affected customers, and encourages customers to reach out to us on 13POST (13 7678).”