TRADIES’ tools are being stolen in increasing numbers – and that’s frustrating police who say simple precautions would remove the temptation to thieves and make their jobs easier.
Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cashman, of Kingston CIU, said tradies should lock their ute doors and trays, make sure toolboxes are secure, and remove tools completely if possible to deter thieves. They should engrave their names and licence numbers on tools to make their resale more difficult, he said.
On the other side of the ledger, tradies offered tools in pubs or clubs should take note of the person trying to sell them and notify police.
Detective Cashman was speaking after a spate of thefts from cars and utes was reported during the past week.
“It’s a constant issue,” he said.
In one robbery, the window of a Mitsubishi Triton ute parked underground off Balcombe Road, Mentone, was smashed and a wallet, Stihl power saw and cash, with a total value of $1840, were stolen overnight on Sunday 11 March. The thieves later unsuccessfully attempted to use a credit card in the wallet to make purchases, but they were declined.
Tools valued at $1280 were stolen from a Holden sedan parked in the driveway of a Station Street, Chelsea house, overnight Thursday 8 March.
The thieves opened the boot before stealing a De Walt drill set kit, Makita impact driver and two large tool bags containing hammer drills and socket sets.
Two mountain bikes were stolen from the carport of a Chelsea Road, Chelsea, property after thieves broke into a Toyota Prado and stole keys to the locks, overnight Thursday 8 March. The Cannondale and Giant brand bikes are valued at $1500.
A GPS unit valued at $150 was stolen from a car parked in the driveway of a property in Ivan Avenue, Edithvale, from 4-11 March. The owner returned to find his Chrysler sedan unlocked and the unit missing.
A wallet was stolen from the front seat of a car parked outside its owner’s house in Arwon Street, Mordialloc, and $850 in “suspicious” transactions from a credit card racked up overnight, Thursday 8 March. The victim’s bank called next morning to report the breaches. Detectives are piecing together the transactions to help identify the tap-n-go thief.
The front side window of a Toyota Hilux ute parked in Main Street, Mordialloc, was smashed and a mobile phone and Makita drill, with a total value of $960, stolen overnight, Sunday 11 March.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 14 March 2018