Alleged Redcliffe and Woody Point bike theft spree victims release footage
Determined victims of an alleged spree of e-bike thefts throughout Woody Point and Redcliffe, have released footage in the hopes of nabbing the thief.
Moreton
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Victims of an alleged spree of thefts throughout Redcliffe and Woody Point are feeling ‘sick in the stomach’, with an offender caught on camera stealing e-bikes and other items from storage lockers in an apartment complex.
Waters Edge apartment complex residents at 18 Woodcliffe Crescent, Robert Webber and Steve Imhoff, awoke on August 1, 2023 to find their bikes and other property stolen from their secure lockers, inside the complex’s basement.
The two men allege after 10pm on July 31, the offender pressed and climbed through plastic mesh in the basement car park, allowing him to access the residents’ storage lockers.
From there the victims allege the offender stole a blue e-bike belonging to Mr Webber’s wife, before returning three hours later with loading trolleys, to steal another bike and more belongings.
Mr Webber and Mr Imhoff then allege, via CCTV in the complex’s basement car park and on the street, the offender rode away on the bikes, with residents’ belongings loaded into trolleys connected to the bikes, to a nearby park.
After posting a photo of the alleged theft on various community Facebook pages in Redcliffe, the pair received feedback from other victims saying, ‘this looks like our guy’.
The pair have been informed by police there’s a lot of apartments and unit blocks being broken into all around Redcliffe and Woody Point.
A former police officer, Mr Imhoff said he’s lost over $2,000 in the alleged theft of his motorcycle helmet with centre communication devices and gloves, stolen out of his locker.
“You feel sick in the stomach and I certainly did, to think someone had been in and stole your property, invaded your personal space,” Mr Imhoff said.
“It’s not a nice feeling.
“He’s been very selective with what he’s taken.
“He’s obviously got a market for certain items and there seems to be a market for e-bikes.”
Police have confirmed unit complexes and residences throughout Woody Point have allegedly been broken into, including a residence in Lilla Street and a Sutton Street unit complex.
A QPS spokesperson confirmed police are investigating a vehicle stolen from a Lilla Street address on August 1.
“Initial investigations indicate between 5am and 4pm, an offender gained access to the Lilla Street residence, before they located a set of keys,” the spokesperson said.
“The offender has then been able to access a vehicle that was parked nearby the residence and flee the scene in the vehicle.
“The vehicle was later located on Saturday, August 5 at Margate.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Police are investigating reports of property being stolen from a carpark of a Sutton Street, Redcliffe unit complex on August 1.
The QPS spokesperson said police are also investigating items reportedly stolen from a Woodcliffe Crescent, Woody Point unit complex on the evening of July 31.
“Initial investigations indicate between 10pm and 1:15am, a group of offenders have gained access to a storage area of the complex and have taken multiple items before fleeing the scene,”spokesperson said.
There are currently no indications at this time that these incidents are linked.
Mr Webber said the two e-bikes allegedly stolen on July 31 would be worth an estimated $8,000-$10,000.
“The first blue bike stolen, he filled up the baskets and the second time he took out baskets and trolley loads of stuff, and we believe they were taken to a car 200 metres away,” Mr Webber said.
“He came back three hours later, got another set of stuff and rode off on the bike.
“People seem very vulnerable and we had no idea how many people had been affected by robbery.
“You think apartment blocks are secure because they have locks on lobbies, you can’t just knock on someone’s door and they have security systems.
“I feel a lot more vulnerable.”
Mr Webber and his wife moved to Woody Point from Bulimba and said it doesn’t seem to matter where you live right now because nowhere is safe from crime.
“We lived opposite four houses and three of those had people break in and steal cars from underground carparks,” Mr Webber said.
“What I do question is are we resourcing the police enough to investigate these things?
“The amount of theft I think it outstripping the ability for police to keep up with it
“We’ve sent photographs, all this evidence, made police reports and the face of this guy is obvious what’s happening?”
Mr Imhoff said the amount of crime is the worst he’s ever seen, on top of dealing with his insurance company denying his claim.
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