$1.5m of cigarettes stolen in Sydney
(Najamuddin Ghanghro, Karachi(original from Larkana))
About $1.5 million worth of
cigarettes have been stolen from a freight company in Sydney's west.
Police were called to the firm's holding yard at Wetherill Park early on
Saturday morning after employees discovered it had been broken into and four
pallets of cigarettes had been stolen.
Police allege that CCTV footage at the yard showed three men breaking into the
premises at about 1am (AEDT).
The trio then used a forklift to remove the pallets before placing them in a
waiting truck, police said on Sunday.
The truck was later found burnt out at Minchinbury.
While the cigarettes have a wholesale value of about $600,000, police said they
would retail for approximately $1.5 million.
A similar incident occurred at the same location a couple of weeks ago and
detectives believe they are linked.
On January 13, three pallets of cigarettes were stolen from the holding yard
after a number of men gained entry.
The cigarettes stolen during that break-in also have an estimated wholesale
value of approximately $600,000.
Police are asking for anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333
000.