George Deen jailed for stealing $1.3m worth of goods for $30k
Deen stole $1.3 million in industrial items and sold them for scrap, pocketing only about $30,000.
George Deen orchestrated two thefts from Contec Proprietary Limited between late 2018 and August 2019. Deen, one of the controversial Deen Brothers who demolished Brisbane heritage landmarks in the 1970s and '80s, stole industrial items including concrete moulds worth $1.3 million total.
The first raid took $746,376 worth; the second took $458,000 worth. Every item was cut and sold for scrap metal at a Rocklea business.
Deen received about $30,000, which he split with his crew and used to cover costs. After paying everyone, he kept nothing.
CCTV captured the dusk-to-dawn operations. When police questioned him, Deen concocted a story claiming a man gave him permission, supplying a phone number he said was the man's.
That number was actually Deen's own phone, saved under his initials "SMD". Now 76, Deen pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing property over $5,000.
- $1.3 million
- Total stolen value
- $30,000
- Amount received after crew paid
- $746,376
- First raid value
- 76
- Deen's current age
Why it mattersMajor theft can result in minimal financial gain and prison time, a cautionary tale of crime's true cost.
AustraliaQueensland crime; Brisbane businessman sentenced in District Court.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
