Willem Louis De Klerk caught stealing trailer from Theodore workshop

A man was caught stealing a trailer from a Central Queensland workshop thanks to a citizen’s arrest. Here’s how it happened.

An Ergon Energy linesman has been left red faced and out of pocket after he was caught stealing a trailer from a Central Queensland workshop thanks to a citizen’s arrest.

Willem Louis De Klerk, 53, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on August 3 to one count of stealing.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said on July 3, about 6pm, De Klerk attended a workshop on Fifth Avenue, Theodore, where he located an incomplete, unregistered trailer outside and attached it to his vehicle.

Mr Boyd said De Klerk then drove away and on a secluded dirt road he stopped to attach a temporary light bar to the trailer.

The prosecutor said while De Klerk was attaching the light bar, a witness drove past and recognised the trailer and contacted its owner.

The witness caught up with De Klerk as he was about to turn left on the Leichhardt Highway intersection, the court heard.

Mr Boyd said the witness attempted to drive in front of De Klerk, but De Klerk tried to go around him.

Mr Boyd said the witness then drove toward De Klerk at slow speed, causing him to stop.

The witness was then able to speak to De Klerk and call the trailer’s owner.

The trailer’s owner called police and himself attended the scene.

About 6.15pm, police from Theodore arrived at the scene and spoke with the three men.

Mr Boyd said when police questioned De Klerk, he told them he did not think the trailer belonged to anybody and could be taken.

“He further outlined that he needed a trailer and would work on it to fix it up, otherwise it was just going to sit there and rust,” Mr Boyd said.

“He claimed that he did not feel like he’d stolen anything and that he is not a thief.”

De Klerk was arrested and charged.

The court heard De Klerk had no criminal history.

Solicitor Richard Parks said De Klerk was a married father of three adult children who lived at Biloela and worked as a linesman for Ergon Energy.

“Yes, the trailer was outside or near the victim’s residence,” Mr Parks said.

“It was on the other side of the road in long grass and it appeared to be abandoned, and that’s what (De Klerk) thought.

“But, having said that, I’ve explained to him, even if something’s abandoned on the side of the road, a motor vehicle or such, you cannot take it without going to council and getting permission.

“You go along and take something out of somebody’s garbage bin, you are committing an offence.”

Mr Parks said De Klerk was “very sorry” for what he had done and it was a “very bad judgment call”.

The solicitor said De Klerk also had to pay an unregistered vehicle fine as a result of the incident, and the trailer was returned to its owner.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said it was “stupid offending rather than dishonesty”.

“I don’t think it was even opportunistic, it was just a very poor call and I don’t think you’ll make it again,” she said.

“You’ve done nothing like this in the past and to get to your age of life, it is out of character.”

Ms Beckinsale placed De Klerk on a six-month good behaviour order with a $500 recognisance.

No conviction was recorded.