A man is facing criminal charges after allegedly using a stolen front-end loader to steal copper cabling from Tasmanian Gold in Beaconsfield earlier this year. 

The 30-year-old St Leonards man has been charged with Criminal Code damage, trespass, motor vehicle stealing and attempted stealing and was bailed to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on 23 August 2023.  

Police will allege that the man stole the front-end loader from Flowery Gully in March 2023, and used it to ram a secure gate at Tasmania Gold. While nothing was stolen from the site, a 22,000 volt transformer was destroyed and will cost in excess of $500,000 to repair. Power to the site was only regained in June. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or report to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000.