A council is pleading with the community to help them track down the individuals responsible for an “incredibly brazen robbery” worth a steep $10,000. Councillors have been left head-scratching after the bizarre 25-tonne theft that took place beside one of the busiest roads in the area.
Lake Macquarie council installed dozens of “huge sandstone blocks” in July and August beside The Esplanade at Speers Point.
But on Monday, staff noticed 23 of them — each weighing a whopping 1.1 tonnes — had been stolen.
A spokesperson for the council told Yahoo News Australia so far, no arrests have been made, but NSW Police are investigating.
Measuring in at more than two metres in length, the sandstone slabs were installed to prevent parking alongside the road near the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
“It’s the first time we know of that sandstone blocks have been stolen from a council site,” the spokesperson said.
It’s been difficult to track down the offenders due to the lack of CCTV on that stretch of road.
Reports of residents stealing from public spaces are on the rise nationwide.
Earlier this month, a man was caught on CCTV allegedly cutting down an entire tree in the inner-city Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.
In October, a regional council blasted the actions of an individual who caused over $2,000 worth of damage in a public garden.
The bollards were installed in July and August to prevent illegal parking along The Esplanade at Speers Point. Source: Lake Macquarie Council
Council says ‘a team’ required to remove to blocks
In Lake Macquarie, Council Manager of Assets Dayne Harris stated that “the hunt” is now on “for the “gang of blockheaded thieves”.
He said that removing so many blocks would have required a team of people, along with at least one truck and lifting equipment.
“It’s an incredibly brazen robbery,” he said.
“This is right beside The Esplanade, which is a relatively busy road right around the clock.”
They each weighed a whopping 1.1 tonnes, and the collective haul was more than 25 tonnes. Source: Lake Macquarie Council
Work is underway to obtain replacement blocks, and in the interim, temporary water-filled barriers will be placed along the stretch to restrict access to people hoping to illegally park.
“Chances are that with so many blocks, they would have either needed more than one truck, or would have had to make multiple trips there and back to steal them and unload them elsewhere,” Harris said.
“Hopefully someone has seen them in action, or maybe has dashcam footage of the theft taking place,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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