A 49-YEAR-OLD Goonellabah man has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from ATMs and businesses after police divers recovered an automatic teller machine he allegedly dumped in the Tweed River..
Police allege the man stole three ATMs between August 2016 and March 2017 along with property to a total of more than $100,000.
Police divers recovered one of the ATMs from the Tweed River on Sunday, March 5.
As a result of investigations by detectives from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command and Richmond Local Area Command who established Strike Force Feodore, a 49-year-old man was charged with the thefts on Wednesday, May 10.
Police said in a media statement the man had stolen property and cash from several locations in New South Wales and the Gold Coast.
“On the 2nd August 2016 a business at Park Street Brunswick Heads was broken into. Over $4,000 worth or property was stolen,” Police said in a statement.
“On the 22nd January 2017 a business at Ballina Street Lennox Head was broken into. $700.00 cash was stolen.
“On the 7th February the same premises at Lennox Head was broken into again. $70,000 cash was stolen from an ATM.
“A restaurant in Mermaid Beach was broken into during February and $10,000 was stolen from an ATM. 50 packets of cigarettes were also stolen.
“On the 3rd March a pizza store in Brunswick Heads was broken into. An ATM containing $12,000 was stolen.
Police had executed a search warrant on the man’s storage shed on March 17 and recovered the alleged stolen property.
The man was brought from the Grafton Correctional Centre to the Lismore Police Station yesterday (May 10) and charged with break, enter and steal value >$60,000, break, enter and steal value <$60,000 (four counts), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and receive/dispose stolen property.
Yesterday (May 10) the man was brought from Grafton Correctional Centre to Lismore Police Station.
The man refused bail in Lismore Local Court yesterday (May 10) and will appear again on Tuesday, June 17.
He was already refused bail on charges of Drive Whilst Disqualified x 3, possess prohibited drug x 2, possess knife, enter inclosed lands and exceed speed.
Once his matters in NSW are finalised he faces charges in Queensland in relation to the ATM theft at Mermaid Beach.
The man has been remanded in custody and will appear in Lismore Local Court on Tuesday, June 17.