Residents of Dolphin Sands on Tasmania’s east coast claim looters have targeted their properties just weeks after a devastating bushfire destroyed 19 homes.
Local Paul Walker was collecting his wife from Hobart Airport two days ago when thieves struck his home.
A neighbour alerted him to items missing from their property, and upon returning yesterday, Walker discovered his own losses: a cast-iron front panel from a log burner—salvaged from the ruins of a destroyed outbuilding—and two jerry cans of diesel supplied by his insurer for a generator, as power remains cut off.
Walker’s house survived the fire, but his outbuildings did not. The imported French log burner panel held particular value and would be hard to replace.
He suspects opportunists are scouting fire-damaged areas across Dolphin Sands, exploiting the aftermath of the blaze—caused by an improperly extinguished registered burn-off.
“As if people here haven’t suffered enough,” Walker said.
“Some stolen items from neighbours have deep sentimental value—it’s truly insult after injury.”
Multiple residents have shared similar experiences in a local Facebook group, including sightings of a suspicious individual examining the remains of a burnt home.
Walker knows of around five affected properties, with thieves mainly taking metal items.
He urged metal recyclers to watch for fire-damaged goods and question their origins.
Despite the incidents, Walker praised the broader support: “The vast majority of people have been incredibly helpful, including insurers and the state government.”
Tasmania Police confirmed a theft report from Tuesday around 4pm involving two jerry cans and a scrap metal door from a Dolphin Sands property.
A separate report noted a suspicious early-model green Nissan Patrol flat-tray ute in the area at the same time. Investigations are ongoing.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff condemned the alleged looting as “disgraceful.”
“This is people allegedly preying on others in an extremely vulnerable position,” he said.
“That is not the Tasmanian way—it’s disgusting behavior with no place in our community, especially toward those already enduring heartbreak.”
