It’s alleged a woman broke in through the temporary security fence and set fire to equipment. Photo: ACT Policing.
A 41-year-old Gordon woman will face ACT Magistrates Court tomorrow, Monday 12 June, after a 5G phone tower and equipment were set alight this morning.
Police arrested the woman earlier today, Sunday 11 June, after a community member reported a person breaking into a fenced-off area around a generator, a fuel cell containing about 1000 litres of diesel fuel, and a phone tower control box at the Gordon playing fields.
ACT Policing received the report about 7:10am, which stated a person dressed in black and in possession of a large knife was breaking into the compound.
A few minutes later the caller made a second report, advising the person had set a fire at the compound and was walking away. The caller kept the person in their sight as they walked away.
Officers arrived at the scene about 7:20 am, observing that the fire was almost out and locating the woman nearby.
After she was arrested, a police search located two kitchen knives, a fire starter and flammable chemicals, gloves and industrial electrical fuses.
An electricity meter was damaged in the incident. Photo: ACT Policing.
Examination of the scene revealed extensive damage to the generator, its fuel storage pod, an electricity meter and other property at the site. Both the generator and nearby mobile phone tower have been rendered inoperable by the fire.
ACT Policing would like to thank the community member who made the initial reports and continued to observe the woman.
The generator control was also damaged. Photo: ACT Policing.
The woman is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with three counts of property damage, possessing a knife without a reasonable excuse, and possession of stolen property.
Further charges may be laid in the future regarding the interruption to the mobile phone network.
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