Police have charged a 33-year-old man from Oakdowns with 11 counts of trespass and 11 counts of stealing after being located within the Tin Pot Marsh Creek Reserve at Woodsdale cutting firewood.

After a substantially major operation within the Tin Pot Marsh Creek Reserve area was concluded by Tasmania Police, Parks and Wildlife Services and Sustainable Timber Tasmania in 2020 that resulted in the charging of 19 offenders, Tasmania Police received information that the theft of firewood was again occurring within the region.

As a result of the information received, a joint operation was conducted by officers from Tasmania Police, Parks and Wildlife Services and Sustainable Timber Tasmania. As a result, a 33-year-old man was located within the region at 4am on 7 February 2023. The man was arrested, charged and bailed to appear before the Court at a later date. It is alleged the man has stolen in excess of 50 tons of firewood with an estimated value of $10,000.

Six other offenders identified during the operation will receive summonses to attend court for stealing and trespass offences.

Police would like to remind the public that there are processes involved in the gathering of firewood and that permits are available from Sustainable Timber Tasmania for the sole purpose of gathering firewood for personal use only. Police ask the public to be cautious when buying firewood and to ask questions to ensure that it has been sourced legally.

Anyone with information about illegal firewood gathering should contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers through crimestopperstas.com.au