More than $100,000 worth of stolen fishing equipment has been found after ACT Policing executed a search warrant last week.
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An investigation was launched after police received a report that a former employee of a fishing store had stolen $25,000 worth of fishing equipment and a large amount of cash.
Police say they searched the home of a 31-year-old Latham man on Friday. They found and seized an "enormous" amount of fishing gear and associated products suspected of being stolen.
Items included more than 70 fishing rods, 24 fishing reels, more than 30 clear fishing boxes containing lures, fishing hooks and fishing line and several backpacks full of fishing equipment.
Two large plastic boxes full of unopened packets of fishing lures and more than 10 knives were also seized.
Other items included tents, binoculars and fishing flies.
In a statement, ACT Policing said they believed a large number of the items seized were stolen from another fishing store where the alleged offender had also worked.
Detective acting superintendent Jason Kennedy said he believed some people will now be in possession of stolen goods that they had purchased in good faith.
“It is likely the alleged offender has been selling fishing equipment similar to that seized online through Facebook ‘Buy Swap Sell’ pages and other such websites,” Detective Acting Superintendent Kennedy said.
“I am urging the community to be cautious when buying goods online. Anyone who has recently purchased fishing equipment from a non-reputable dealer online should contact police, as they may have purchased stolen goods.”
Anyone who may have any information that could assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
