Beaconsfield Gold hit by copper thieves, charges after cop ramming

Thieves have been stealing copper wire from mining, industrial and construction sites across Tasmania for decades despite the risk to life and high odds of getting caught, the mineral council says as police continue to investigate a recent incident >>

Damage to the plant at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. Picture: Supplied

TASMANIAN thieves have been stealing copper wire from mining, industrial and construction sites for many decades despite the risk to life and high odds of getting caught.

CEO of the Tasmanian Mineral and Energy council Ray Mostogl said stealing copper wire could be opportune and relatively easy because industrial sites are often unattended and the product is sometimes left on the back of a parked truck.

“But the issue is there are only a few scrap metal merchants in Tasmania who will pay for the copper and police often start their enquiries there,” Mr Mostogl said.

“I am aware of convictions previously. The merchant takes a risk with purchasing and the form of the copper (cables, sheet, bars) usually makes it obvious where it has been sourced from.”

Workers coil copper wire rod following manufacture at a refinery. Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

He echoed the warning put out by police on Monday that trying to steal copper wire near live electrics could be fatal.

“There have been cases where thieves have accessed live electrical cabinets and placed themselves at risk of being electrocuted in attempting to remove electrical conductors – they were lucky to not be able to work out how to get it and this may have saved their life.”

This issue was highlighted on Saturday night when thieves broke into the Beaconsfield Gold Mine site and used a front-end loader to try to steal copper wire from a transformer unit.

They left a costly $1.5m mess and a mine site without power.

Tasmania Police is still hunting for the offenders and charged thieves over the decades.

In 2012, a Shorewell man who stole more than $150,000 in copper wiring and other items was sentenced to more than two years in jail.

The man cut the locks on a Tullah business and stole power cables and copper wire.

In 2017, Tasmania Police and TasNetworks targeted vandals damaging high-voltage power poles by stealing copper wire.

Theft of copper wire had been a problem in Tasmania since the 1950s.

In 1954, two men went on trial in Hobart for the alleged stealing of cable from Bronte Park in the central highlands.

Mine’s $1m ram raid just tip of the iceberg

A TASMANIAN mine is being broken into and damaged several times a week with the latest incident causing a $1.5m bill, cutting power supply and delaying a planned ­return to production.

Police are investigating an overnight incident at a Beaconsfield Gold Mine processing plant in which a front-end loader, stolen from a nearby business, was used in an ­attempt to steal copper wiring.

The plant targeted is now out of action and the mine has no power supply.

Consultant to Tasmanian Gold Roger Jackson said the thieves were lucky they did not kill themselves.

CCTV still of the loader at Beaconsfield Gold Mine on Saturday night

“This person, or people, risked their lives to get copper. Clearly someone is buying it,” Mr Jackson said.

“What they took is worth about $1000, if that, but they have caused significant damage and it amounts to industrial vandalism.

“The mine and plant has been damaged almost on a weekly basis.

“The operation has totally lost power. We were meant to be moving back into production this year but this has put everything back.”

Police were called to the scene in Rifle Range Rd early Sunday after the business had again been entered.

This time, the thieves damaged a transformer.

Tasmania Police Inspector Dean McMahon. Picture: Alex Treacy

“The offenders have wrapped a chain around the mass of copper cables close to where they attach to the transformer and tried to rip them free using the front-end loader,” Inspector Dean McMahon said.

“This caused the transformer to buckle and damage part of the overhead cabling structure.

“This incident has caused significant damage to a local business and Tasmania Police are following up a number of avenues of inquiry.”

Mr Jackson said he felt for the local employees who were dealing with trespassers day and night.

“Last week we had a break in while we were on site during the day time. There are dozens of vehicles burnt out in the quarry,” he said.

“There have been holes cut in our fences and gear stolen, and all our driveways and carparks are torn up from people doing burnouts.”

Investigations are ongoing and anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the Beaconsfield area overnight are urged to contact police on 131 444 or report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au You can do so anonymously.

TEEN’S RAMMING OF COP CAR, MYSTERY DISPUTE HEADLINE BUSY NIGHT OF CRIME

By Alex Treacy

A teen driver of an allegedly stolen vehicle that rammed a police unit, and a disturbance that led to four triple-0 calls from the public were major ­incidents in a busy night for police in northern Tasmania.

Inspector Dean McMahon has detailed the incidents, which happened in the early hours of Sunday.

Insp McMahon said police saw a stolen vehicle travelling at speed on Normanstone St, South Launceston, about 4.30am. Road spikes were ­deployed in an attempt to stop the vehicle, which then rammed an unmarked police vehicle, which sustained minor damage. No one was injured.

The vehicle crashed at the intersection of Wentworth and Junction streets, Newstead, Insp McMahon said.

The 19-year-old driver was arrested and charged with motor vehicle stealing, speeding, dangerous driving and the possession of a taser weapon. He appeared in an after hours session at Launceston Magistrates Court on Sunday night.

An unknown passenger fled the scene, Insp McMahon said.

Earlier, about 2.40am, police received four triple-0 calls from residents in the Newnham/Rocherlea area ­reporting loud noises and raised voices, male and female.

Reports were received from Goya and Lilydale roads, and near Brooks High School.

Police combed the area, and deployed a drone, but could not find those behind the disturbance, Insp McMahon said.

“We’re treating these ­reports seriously, we want to know what’s going on,” he said.

Anyone who has any information about the incidents is urged to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Beaconsfield Gold hit by copper thieves, charges after cop ramming