Work vehicle stolen from Mount Magnet and torched in bushland in Karloo

Karloo residents awoke to a car set alight in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after it was allegedly stolen from a Mount Magnet mine site and driven to Geraldton.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services received a report from Geraldton police of a car on fire on Peter Way in Karloo about 2.37am on Wednesday.

The vehicle was used for work purposes and was allegedly stolen from a contractor’s accommodation in Mount Magnet last weekend.

A DFES spokesperson said two appliances were sent from Geraldton Fire Rescue to assist.

They said the vehicle — located in bushland behind Peter Way and Simon Drive — was left with police.

Mount Magnet police officer-in-charge Sergeant Scott Davis said the vehicle was stolen on Saturday, November 5 from an accommodation camp used by workers contracted to a mine site.

“It was an opportunistic crime because unfortunately keys are left in vehicles. We’ve addressed that with the contractors,” he said.

A resident on Simon Drive closest to the torched vehicle said she was awoken to the vehicle on fire.

“I woke up at around 2am to crackling and popping,” she said.

Another resident a few doors down told the Geraldton Guardian his wife reported the incident to police after she witnessed people running away from the vehicle.

DFES confirmed the blaze was extinguished by 2.53am.

Mount Magnet police said multiple juveniles from the area had been charged and inquiries were continuing.