A veteran truckie who was parked up overnight at the Caltex Moree is warning other drivers to stay vigilant and keep their doors locked after two alleged robberies there this week.
‘Robbie Road Train’ said two drivers at the site had their trucks broken into while they were sleeping on Wednesday night (August 30). Both were unharmed but property had been taken, said Robbie whose Western Star B-double was just metres away from one of the trucks targetted.
He said one of the truckies he spoke to only discovered the break-in when he woke up to find his wallet, iPhone and fuel cards were gone.
“He said he got up for a piss at 2.30am, went back to be bed and hasn’t heard a bloody thing,” said Robbie who first posted a warning to other drivers in the Facebook site ‘Truck drivers food, showers and reviews Australia wide’.
“I pulled in there at 11.15pm pretty buggered and I had the Icepak going too but I would have slept like a log and didn’t hear a thing.
“I just woke up [to see the police] and thought, ‘What’s going on here?'”
Robbie believes there no easy answer to make truckies safer, other than to watch out for each other and keep the truck doors locked at all times.
“These young blokes are just out of control. They just don’t seem to give a f**k. They just take what they want.”
It’s the latest in a spate of similar servo incidents on the Newell Highway in northern NSW, with nearby Boggabilla also being a hotspot for thieves in recent weeks.
In June, truckie Peter Dickinson shared the frightening story of how he fought off a carload of assailants who tried to rob him in the middle of the night.
A short time later police made a series of arrests that were believed to be connected.
“Everyone probably thought they’ve got them now, it’s over, but here we go again, only a few weeks later it starts all over,” Robbie added.
“People need to not get too relaxed and just lock their doors at all times.”
Update (August 31, 4.30pm) from NSW Police:
At about 4.50am on Thursday, August 31 police were called to a service station on Blueberry Road, Moree, following reports of a robbery.
On arrival, officers attached to New England Police District spoke to a 60-year-old man.
Police were told that the man was taking a rest in his truck when an unknown male entered the cab of the truck and demanded money.
The male took a mobile phone and cigarettes from the truck before fleeing with another male on a motorcycle.
The 60-year-old man was uninjured and did not require medical attention.
A crime scene was established, and police commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As inquiries continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact New England Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Big Rigs has also approached Caltex for comment.