Man charged after trying to steal Port Douglas prawn boat
A man has been tied to a signpost in a Port Douglas citizen’s arrest by the skipper of a prawn boat after the would-be thief allegedly tried to steal the vessel from a public jetty.
A man has been tied to a signpost in a dramatic citizen’s arrest by the skipper of a Far North prawn boat after the would-be thief allegedly tried to steal the vessel from a public jetty.
Police were called to the jetty near Market Park at Port Douglas, north of Cairns, on Sunday after the owner of the FV Diamond Lil called authorities.
It’s understood the Santiego Seafoods business owner was at the wharf to sell wild caught prawns to the public - a common practice by fishing boat owners - when a man boarded the trawler without permission.
The skipper caught the man and used a ratchet straps to restrain the alleged thief until police arrived at the scene and took over.
Following the incident, Santiego Seafoods posted a message on local social media pages, saying they were no longer “having a sell” that day due to the incident.
The business later made an online post thanking the public for their support “after yesterday’s events”.
According to the seafood company’s social media pages, Santiego Seafoods is a family owned business, and “has the last working trawler ‘Diamond Lil’ in Port Douglas”.
“Since 1972, now on our third generation selling direct off the trawler to the public and best restuarants in town,” the company’s bio states.
“Our prawns are ‘totally wild’ from the Coral Sea.”
Police confirmed officers later charged a 25-year-old man following an incident at Port Douglas.
A police spokeswoman stated Queensland Police officers were called to the jetty at about 7am following reports the man was allegedly on board a trawler without permission.
The vessel’s owner detained the man until police arrived, she said.
The 25-year-old was charged with one count of unlawful use of a vessel.
He is due to appear in the Mossman Magistrates Court on December 17.
Originally published as Man charged after trying to steal Port Douglas prawn boat
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