THE University of Queensland's North Stradbroke Island research facility has been hit by thieves, with flares stolen from the Dunwich base on two occasions.
Police say the Moreton Bay Research Station was robbed sometime between Christmas day and January 14, and again on the weekend.
Acting Sergeant Dave Bourke said more than $700 worth of flares had been taken from the facility.
"This poses a few issues, one being the safety of people needing to use the vessels," he said. "How are they to signal for help when all their flares have been stolen.
"Also, no one apart from centre staff should be accessing these vessels. I would like to remind everyone that if it is not yours, then it is not yours."
Moreton Bay Research Station manager Kevin Townsend said thieves had raided safety gear on three boats.
He said it was out of the ordinary, as the centre had not encountered any major problems in the past.
"Dunwich is a great place, we generally don't have any problems," he said.
"Whether it is holiday makers coming through or locals, I'm not sure. That is with the police.
"It is a one off, it has happened, and I don't see it as something we are continually having problems with or (a sign of) any major crime spree that has all of a sudden erupted in Dunwich."
Mr Townsend said research crews had not been inconvenienced by the stolen flares.
"We just replace them," he said. "No vessels were stopped for researchers or teaching groups.
"Three boats lost their safety gear. There is a little container at the back with flares in it, and they were taken out."
Police told the Redland City Bulletin in January that youths as young as eight allegedly lit flares at Dunwich Primary School.
The incidents occurred about the same time thieves hit the research facility, but it is not known whether the incidents are linked.
Mr Townsend said the centre would often interact with children at the school.
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