South Australian wine collectors have lost valuable bottles in an alleged theft at a self-storage facility in Adelaide.
Individual wine vaults at National Storage Klemzig were allegedly broken into with expensive bottles targeted.
One prominent wine industry identity who contacted WBM said he had lost a six-pack of Henschke Hill of Grace.
The latest vintage of Hill of Grace – 2022 – is $1,100 a bottle.
“I haven’t had time to go through it all yet – and I hadn’t catalogued it all – but I know the Hill of Grace is missing,” he said.
The customer said he only found out about the break-in when he went to retrieve some bottles for a dinner.
The key didn’t work and the lock had been changed.
Another alleged victim told WBM she had lost bottles of Penfolds G3, G4, G5 and Penfolds V Yattarna Chardonnay – as well as other bottles.
“My understanding is the first police report was on July 23 around 10.30am,” she said.
“I received a text from my son on Saturday 15 August asking if I had any wine stored there as a mate of his informed him there had been a substantial number of rare bottles stolen.
“He went to check my cellar on Sunday 16 August and the combination padlock had been replaced with a keyed padlock.
“I had to travel from Kangaroo Island via ferry on Wednesday 19 August and went straight there.
“The padlock was engraved to ask management to remove so I went to the office and they removed it.
“That’s the first time I was aware of the theft and they wouldn’t tell me anything other than it’s a police investigation.
“I emailed and had no reply.
“I then left two messages at reception asking for the operations manager to call me.
“I finally received a call on Thursday 27 August telling me that it’s a police investigation so they won’t tell me anything.”
South Australian Police said this week they had arrested two men from Victoria for unlawful possession and theft.
“As a result of an ongoing investigation on Thursday 20 August, police arrested a 38-year-old man and 37-year-old man, both of Victoria, for unlawful possession and theft,” the police said.
“It will be alleged during a search a significant quantity of wine, power tools, clothing and sneakers were recovered by police.
“The items are believed to have been stolen from break-ins and thefts from a number of storage units in Adelaide.
“The men were charged with serious criminal trespass and unlawful possession, and their bail was refused.”
Meanwhile a storage facility in Sydney has also allegedly been broken into with a reported 15 wine collections targeted.
The alleged thefts are believed to have occurred in late July.
WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine emailed National Storage for a comment on Friday 28 August but we have not received a reply.
Photo for illustration purposes only.
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