Queensland flood looters have been slammed for preying on vulnerable victims who have lost their homes and businesses in the horror weather event.
Channel 7 personality and The Morning Show host Larry Emdur has taken to Instagram to blast the looters, saying they are “un-Australian” and the situation makes him “so mad and so sad”.
“Dear absolute f***ing a**eholes looting houses and businesses in the devastated flood zones know this, every single person in Australia hates you right now!” he wrote.
“Stealing from people who have lost everything …”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also slammed the thieves, saying it was “unbelievable” people chose to harm families who had already been through so much.
“It’s absolutely disgusting, I can’t believe people would even contemplate doing that,” she told on Wednesday morning.
“These people are going through heartache and people are rifling whatever they can from their stuff.”
Queensland Police on Tuesday announced Operation Uniform Nash to combat the property crime and protect homes in flood-affected areas.
Ms Palaszczuk said “severe” penalties would be in place for anyone caught looting.
“There will be plenty of police out there, so they better think twice before they contemplate going and stealing,” Ms Palaszscuk said.
Police from across the state, including plain-clothed officers, the railway and dog squads and other specialist teams, will be called on to prevent and disrupt incidents of looting and property crime from Maryborough to the Gold Coast.
Around-the-clock patrols began in flood zone areas on Tuesday after several incidents of looting was reported in Ipswich.
Police charged a man on Monday following an alleged stealing incident in Goodna and are investigating a further two reports of theft from flooded properties in Bundamba and Blackstone.
Officers saw a man with a large amount of bait and tackle paddling a kayak through floodwaters on Brisbane Rd at about 3pm on Monday.
He allegedly broke into the freezer of a Brisbane Road convenience store and stole several items.
The man was charged with one count of enter premise and commit indictable offence and is expected to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on March 21.
A flooded charity store on Coal St at Bundamba was also broken into after 6pm on Monday. Jewellery items and donated cash were stolen.
A Blackstone resident who had evacuated returned on Monday morning to find their Thomas St property had been broken into, with a door damaged and several items of value stolen.
Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to come forward as investigations continue.
Commissioner Katarina Carroll said Queensland Police had zero tolerance for stealing, particularly in times of disaster.
“I cannot overstate how disappointed and disgusted I am that this has occurred in areas where people have had to leave their houses,” Ms Carroll said.
“Through this operation, we will ensure there is a strong police presence in flood-affected areas to protect our community against heartless thieves.
“Our message to anyone thinking about stealing from homes or businesses is that you can expect police to track you down and ensure you are held responsible for your actions.”
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan on Tuesday dubbed flood looters “grubs” for preying on vulnerable victims.
“This is outrageous behaviour,” he said.
“What you are doing is not just illegal, but you are also grubs, you are preying on the most vulnerable Queenslanders at their most vulnerable time.”
