Millions of dollars found under Australian suburban home

November 11, 2000
Web posted at: 5:21 AM HKT (2121 GMT)

ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters) -- Australian police said on Friday they found about A$4 million (US$2.1 million) in plastic bags and toolboxes hidden under the floorboards of a suburban home after thieves allegedly used a stolen bank card nearly 7,000 times.

Police said A$6.4 million had been stolen from Australian automatic teller machines (ATMs) using a Bank of East Asia debit card which had been reported stolen.

"Four million dollars was in one place, secreted under flooring," detective superintendent Peter Simons told Reuters.

Simons said he could not explain how the card could be used so extensively after it was reported stolen, but said police were alerted two weeks ago when the bank became aware of the thefts.

Another A$400,000 in cash and about A$400,000 worth of property, including electrical goods and cars, were also found in raids conducted this week on several Adelaide homes, he said.

Three men and a woman from an Adelaide family appeared on Thursday in a local court, charged with conspiracy to steal, and were remanded in custody to November 14.

Police said they were still seeking another two suspects.

"I believe it's either the largest or one of the largest ATM thefts ever (in Australia)," Simons told Reuters.

Simons said the debit card had been issued to a Hong Kong businessman, who was believed to have given it to a son studying in Australia.

It had been reported stolen in May, but was used about 6,800 times between July 27 and October 20 at National Australia Bank ATMs.

"Given the fact that we started off with one ATM photo of an unknown person, I think what we've achieved in two weeks is absolutely tremendous," he said of the police investigation.

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