Police in Wyndham have cracked down on thieves targeting tradesmen’s utes and trailers.
Five people have been arrested in recent weeks in relation to tool and trailer theft, including a 44-year-old Hoppers Crossing man and a 25-year-old Werribee woman who were both charged with theft from motor vehicle, displaying false registration plates and driving offences in relation to the alleged theft of hand tools, mechanical equipment and supplies valued at $3000.
Last Thursday, Wyndham CIU’s vehicle crime reduction team searched a house in Altona Meadows and seized parts and materials from a trailer that had been stolen in Tarneit.
The find led to police recovering the trailer in Truganina and another stolen trailer from Seabrook at a second Altona Meadows address.
A 45-year-old Altona Meadows man was charged with the theft of two trailers and other unrelated thefts.
Sergeant Adam Radley said these arrests had made a major impact on tool theft in the area.
“The trailers were parked on the front lawns or in the street, and had their locks cut. It would only take the offender a minute or two to do this.”
Tools valued at more than $2.1 million have been stolen in Wyndham in the three years to March 31, 2017, according to the Crime Statistics Agency.
