Engrave the tools, lock up the ute and park the car in a garage.
That’s the message police want to get through to tradies as thieves continue to get away with tools valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars from tradesmen’s work vehicles.
In a recent incident, two Geelong men were charged with theft from motor vehicles. Police allege they committed multiple offences in which tools valued up to about $30,000 were stolen.
Detective Sergeant Paul Gilmour, of Maribyrnong’s vehicle crime reduction team, allege two men broke into seven cars at Point Cook last month and were later arrested by Footscray police at Maidstone.
“Thanks to the good work of the Footscray night shift crew and the fact that the majority of the tools were engraved with identification numbers, police were able to return them to their owners,” Detective Sergeant Gilmour said.
Detective Sergeant Michael Welsh, of the Wyndham criminal investigation unit, said thefts from motor vehicles continued to be a significant issue in Wyndham and surrounding areas, with tradies often the victims. Tools valued at almost $1 million have been stolen from tradesmen’s work vehicles and building sites in Wyndham over the past three years.
Cost of tool theft
Victoria Police say tools to the value of more than $990,000 were stolen from tradies working or living in Wyndham between October 2012, and last September. Tools valued at $512,367 were stolen in the year to September 30.
In Brimbank over the three-year period to September 30, tools valued at $1.08 million were stolen, while Melton’s tally was $795,996, Hobsons Bay’s was $404,130 and Maribyrnong’s, $321,554.
Police hosted a tradies’ breakfast at Hoppers Crossing’s Bunnings yesterday, part of Operation Tool Safe, which is aimed at reducing tool theft in the west. Tradies had the chance to have their tools engraved and learn about vehicle crime prevention.
“Engraving your name, and phone and licence numbers on your tools may act as a deterrent to thieves by making them more difficult to sell,” Detective Sergeant Welsh said.
