By Chris Nicholls
SYDNEY: The Property Crime Squad has charged a 47-year old man following the recovery of a large number of stolen European wall ovens, worth $186,000, during a raid on a storage facility in Sydney earlier this year.
The arrest follows the theft in early September last year of two trucks and their respective containers from a haulage business in Pine Road, Yennora. More than 170 wall ovens, believed to be Ariston models, were inside the containers.
Police recovered the trucks within two days of the theft, but the containers were empty. However, thanks to enquiries by Property Crime Squad detectives attached to Strike Force Luskin, Police raided a storage unit in Anzac Street, Greenacre on Friday 8 February, where they will allege they found and seized 124 of the 171 wall ovens. The total value of all the ovens was estimated to have been $257,000.
The suspect attended Bankstown Police Station on Monday, where he was arrested and questioned by Property Crime Squad detectives.
He was charged late this afternoon with receiving stolen property and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. The Chester Hill man was conditionally bailed to appear in Bankstown Local Court on 4 June.
Strike Force Luskin was established by the Property Crime Squad to investigate the theft of goods from shipping containers and is continuing its inquiries.
Anyone with information about the theft or sale of stolen property is urged to contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously and will be treated in confidence.