Police arrest two men behind nine-day copper theft heist

Police have arrested two men who stole 239 kilograms of copper wire in an Ipswich shopping Centre heist, after one of the men tried to hide in a closet.

Detective Inspector Mick Manago said Town Square Redbank Plains security equipment was sabotaged over nine days in a "coordinated" attack.

Inspector Manago said police alleged around 11pm on November 1 a masked man was captured on CCTV deliberately damaging a security camera at the site before leaving.

He said on November 5, offenders allegedly cut through perimeter fencing before forcing a door open using a crowbar.

He said inspection of the site on November 9 identified extensive damage to electrical infrastructure, including a severed main earthing cable and additional wiring.

Inspector Manago said two Redbank Plains men had been arrested, a 42-year-old and a 46-year-old.

More potential colluders

Inspector Manago said police were investigating the possibility that there may have been other people involved.

"There was some planning, which is quite concerning for us," Inspector Manago said.

"I would expect that amount of copper cabling would need a vehicle to remove it, so we're appealing to anyone in the area at the time who saw any suspicious vehicles to come forward.

"There is every chance that further persons will need to be held to account for what's occurred."

The 42-year-old has been charged with two counts of possessing tainted property and fraud, one count each of entering premises to commit an indictable offence, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property suspected of having been used in the commission of a drug offence, and possessing utensils.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on December 2.

The 46-year-old was arrested by police after trying to hide in a clothes closet.

He was charged with three counts of possessing tainted property, two counts of fraud, and one count each of entering premises to commit an indictable offence, and possessing utensils.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on January 8.

Inspector Manago said copper theft was a serious offence.

"The financial impact of this type of offending extends well beyond the value of the copper stolen.

"There are businesses that face costly repairs, but also they face a financial impact due to the loss of trading."

The copper theft caused most of Town Square Redbank Plain's shops to lose power on Tuesday, causing businesses to close and food to spoil.