'Grubby' act called out amid Queensland flooding
Queensland homes and businesses impacted by the state's devastating floods have been targeted by thieves.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed there had been three reports of burglary in Goodna, Blackstone and Bundamba on Monday.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with burglary in relation to one of the incidents, while police are appealing for information on the other two.
"Can I please ask again the community be very mindful of this, any activity is reported," she said on Tuesday.
One of the premises targeted is residential while the other two are commercial properties.
Commissioner Carroll said she was "disappointed and disgusted" by the reports and warned anyone contemplating such behaviour they will be caught.
Minister for Emergency Services Mark Ryan did not mince his words when addressing the matter, branding those targeting vacant homes as "grubs".
"Let me put this as politely as I can to those people engaged in that behaviour," he told reporters.
"What you are doing is not just illegal, but you are also grubs. You are preying on the most vulnerable Queenslanders at the time of their most vulnerable."
'You're not a Queenslander, you're a grub'
He vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
"I'll go even further to say you're not even Queenslanders when you engage in this behaviour because Queenslanders help their mates and Queenslanders support their mates, and if you're thieving from them, you're not a Queenslander, you're a grub," he added.
Ipswich Council Paul Tully also reported vehicles had been targeted by looters.
"It's disgusting. It's probably better if I don't say what I would like to do if I got my hands on them," he told AAP.
The clean-up in southeast Queensland has begun despite widespread flooding in the region.
Water levels are slowly receding, but more than 150 residents in the Goodna area remain stranded.
More than 370mm fell in a 43-hour period at the nearby weather station at Greenbank, just south of Brisbane.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
