"Throw the book at them": Police slam would-be thieves amid MNC flood crisis

Police have warned they’ll “throw the book” at would-be criminals hoping to capitalise on devastating floods on the Mid North Coast.

The statements, from Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell on Monday, come after two men were arrested for looting. Thurtell said stealing from vulnerable people during hard times was “un-Australian”.

“We have additional police on the ground and if we find anyone taking advantage of this community we’ll throw the book at them,” he said.

“The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace.”

Police in Taree arrested a 20-year-old on Sunday evening who was allegedly found picking through property in the street. Police allege he was in possession of two hunting knives, first aid kits, a defibrillator, fishing rods, and other tools and medical items.

The man was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and custody of knife in a public place.

In an unrelated incident on Sunday, police also stopped and searched a 4WD in Taree. Police allege personal documents, tools and a knife were found inside the vehicle and arrested the 29-year-old driver.

Almost 800 homes have already been declared write-offs across the Mid North Coast, after more than 5000 damage assessments were conducted by the SES over the weekend.

At the flooding’s peak, it’s estimated 50,000 people were isolated. On Tuesday, 12,000 people were still considered “isolated”.

Australian Defence Force personnel have been dispatched to the region and insurers have already received more than 4000 claims.

Climate change making severe weather worse

The Climate Council warned last week these incidents can no longer be considered “natural” disasters – they are occurring with increasing frequency and ferocity, fuelled by the consequences of pollution from coal, oil and gas that are heating the climate.

Speaking with the National Account, former chief research scientist at the CSIRO, Professor David Karoly, said human-driven climate change is making extreme weather worse.

“It puts the weather on steroids," he said, "increasing the intensity and frequency of extremes… and that’s why most climate scientists want to ban the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity.”