Charges laid over jewellery heists
TWO men have been charged over the theft of $40,000 worth of jewellery from Prouds Jewellers in Rose City Shoppingworld last week.
A 21-year-old Lutwyche man and a 31-year-old Deagon man were charged with a number of robbery offences relating to alleged thefts spanning the past three months, including the one in Warwick on August 7.
A third man was assisting police with their inquiries as of print deadline last night, but was expected to also be charged and front Pine Rivers Magistrates Court atStrathpine this morning.
A police spokesman said a 19-year-old Zillmere woman was issued with a notice to appear for receiving stolen property as part of the operation.
Police inquiries led them to the Lutwyche and Deagon men who were located in north Brisbane on Thursday.
Further investigations and a search warrant led them to an inner-city Brisbane apartment where they located the third man, along with more allegedly stolen jewellery.
The group was allegedly involved with other robberies in Noosaville and Taigum over June and August.
The thieves are said to have broken through a side door of Rose City Shoppingworld at midnight on August 7 and forced open a roller door to the jewellery store.
The string of incidents was dubbed Operation Kilo Ironclad by police.
Detectives from Metropolitan North region, North Coast region, Southern region and State Crime Operations Command began Operation Kilo Ironclad in response to the theft of a significant amount of jewellery, with police recovering a large amount of jewellery and a sawn-off rifle during the course of the operation.
Operation Kilo Ironclad continues with police investigations into a number of other jewellery store thefts ongoing.
Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
