Tasmanian police are hot on the trail of thieves who stole a caravan from a Somerset dealership earlier this week.
Officers are now scouring the Burnie area for a stolen Jayco caravan, a Mitsubishi Triton, and those responsible for the alleged crimes.
The saga started when a Toyota LandCruiser was stolen from Launceston earlier this week, and then driven to the North-West Coast and used to steal the Jayco at Somerset.
Sergeant Andrew Smith told the Advocate newspaper that said the LandCruiser was recently spotted in Burnie, and police then made an unsuccessful attempt to intercept it.
“The vehicle evaded police by crossing a number of rural properties, causing damage to fences and gates in the West Mooreville area,” he said. “The vehicle was then located abandoned in steep terrain in Romaine.”
Police investigating the incident deployed the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to the area last night to search for offenders in the area.
Sergeant Smith alleged the people responsible for the thefts later stole a white, dual cab 2015 Mitsubishi Triton utility with registration number E04VX from an address at Stowport. He said the vehicle was observed just after midnight in Burnie but managed to avoid police, and was last observed travelling south on the Ridgley Highway.
“It is believed the vehicle has some damage to the front passenger side and may be now displaying false number plates,” he said. “Police believe the Jayco caravan may be stored within the Ridgley, Stowport or Highclere area and it may be possible that other fences and gates have been damaged during last night’s incident.”
Investigations are continuing.
With the popularity of caravanning in Australia surging, there has been a spike in the number of RV thefts across the country.
The punishment , back in the day, and still a punishment in some countries, of cutting off a hand, for stealing needs to be brought into Australia. The old punishment, for horse stealing was hanging, and as a vehicle is really a horse, maybe we could bring back hanging as well.
Too true
These days going to jail is 3 meals a day. T.v and laz about.
How about some hard labour on bread and water. Bed is a plank and sheet no pillow.
It would work people would say I am never going back there
But no
Too many foolish do gooders will say that is inhumane. Can’t do that to a murderer, serial theif, arsonist,
It really is time to rethink punishments. Hard labour needs to be brought back, and in the cases of PROVEN child or elderly abuse or terrorism, we need to bring back the lash or cane