Mayor: ‘scumbag’ fuel thieves, own up
THIEVES who allegedly used a tractor to siphon 100L of diesel from a council generator, putting numerous Toomulla homes at risk of being flooded by sewage, have been called “scumbags” and “stupid cretins” by an infuriated Mayor Jenny Hill.
Cr Hill said the Townsville City Council had placed the generator at the Toomulla sewage pump station to ensure the plant continued to function after power was cut to the small community.
It is alleged thieves in a tractor siphoned 100L of diesel from the generator overnight.
This meant homes in Toomulla were at risk of having sewage back up into their homes every time they flushed the toilet or took a shower.
Cr Hill said it was not known at this stage how many properties, if any, had been affected.
“Anyone who thinks they can do this and think council isn’t going to take action is a fool,” she said. “And quite frankly these people are nothing but scumbags because they are putting their community at risk.
“This is what I’m going to say to the scumbags who did this: we know all about the tractor you used.
“If I were you I would turn myself into police now before the community come looking for you, as I believe a number of the community knows who did it. To the Toomulla community, you know who these people are. Please turn them in to police now before other peo- ple that I’m hearing around the traps are going to take the law into their own hands.”
Cr Hill said police were investigating the incident, and council workers had refuelled the affected generator and the pump station was functioning.
“For some stupid cretins to think it’s a great joke to steal from council and it doesn’t matter, they don’t know the impact that it has on people,” Cr Hill said.
“Hand yourself in and apologise to the community.”
The total reduction in property crime since the beginning of the flood crisis is not known, but Townsville District Superintendent Steve Munro said the main priority for police was stopping crime as life returned to normal. An additional 75 police officers have been flown into Townsville.
“There has been significant additional police brought into the city and there is a high-visibility police presence,” he said.
“We’ll have significant resources until we return the whole community back to a level of normality as we move into the recovery phase.”
Investigations into the Toomulla fuel siphoning incident are continuing.
If I were you I would turn myself into police now … JENNY HILL