Tradies are being warned to keep an inventory of their tools, mark each item individually and secure them, after a spate of thefts across Wyndham.
First Constable Madeline Gillard, of the crime investigation unit, said between 10 and 20 cars were being broken into each night, with tradesmen’s vehicles also a common target.
“The biggest thing [tradies] need to do is keep an inventory of the make, model and serial number of every tool,” she said.
“They should also engrave them, as you would with a bike, with their driver’s licence number. That way, as soon as we locate stolen property we can see the number and get it back to its owner.”
She said a recent operation had uncovered a number of stolen items, but police were unable to identify who the tools belonged to.
“Prevention is the key,” she said. “Don’t make it easy for thieves to get stuff. We have definitely seen a significant increase in thefts from cars and utes at building and construction sites – both during the day and at night.”
She said police phones didn’t stop ringing from 7am until 10am because of overnight thefts. First Constable Gillard’s appeal followed a local carpenter becoming the latest victim, his stolen tools being valued at $10,000.
Mitch Pattison left his trailer at a building site on Pedder Street in Wyndham Vale overnight, and returned the next morning to find it gone.
“I thought it’d be safe; I’ve got big locks and chains on it, but the next morning the whole thing was gone,” he said.
“When [my partner and I] got married, our friends and families gave us money. We chose to use that money to purchase the trailer and tools, to set ourselves up for a better future.
“Without my tools, I’m absolutely stuffed.
“A lot of people will think that I was stupid to leave it at the house, but I am young and naive because I believe the best in people. I don’t care who stole them – I just want my tools back.”
