Charges laid over theft from WA gold mines

A Camillo-based man has been charged after allegedly stealing small pieces of gold from several Western Australian mine sites and selling them for over  $81,000.

Police say the 30-year-old man was working as a mill reliner between July 2015 and June this year when he stole gold trapped under the mill liners and loose pieces within the mills, totalling almost two kilograms.

His duties required him to travel to several gold mines and during his job he came into contact with pieces of gold trapped under the mill liners and loose pieces of gold within the mill. 

It is alleged during the process the man stole 67.5 ounces of gold which he sold to various pawnbrokers and gold buyers in Perth. 

The gold pieces are generally flattened into small nuggets during the processing stage.

The man was charged with possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property and is scheduled to face Perth Magistrates Court on July 30.