Thieves steal fire fighting equipment

By Emily Sobey
Updated November 2 2012 - 12:55pm, first published December 10 2009 - 12:29pm
DISGUSTED: Park ranger Mathew Sobey, left, and Moorabool CIU Detective Senior Constable Brian Malloch examine the hole that thieves made in a door to break in and steal the equipment.  Picture: Andrew Kelly
DISGUSTED: Park ranger Mathew Sobey, left, and Moorabool CIU Detective Senior Constable Brian Malloch examine the hole that thieves made in a door to break in and steal the equipment. Picture: Andrew Kelly

VITAL bushfire communication equipment was stolen from Parks Victoria in a brazen robbery on Wednesday night.An estimated $25,000 worth of equipment was taken from the Creswick premises, in a blow to fire preparations this season.The incident occurred between 9pm on Wednesday and 8am yesterday morning.Among the items stolen were chainsaws, an air-compressor, a polesaw, brushcutter, tools and portable radios.The radios were being stored for the Department of Sustainability and Environment for its fire preparations.It is believed thieves scaled a fence leading to a storage shed, where they smashed the door and took the items.A mitre saw bolted to a bench was also stolen. The thieves are believed to have passed the items over the high fence.Parks Victoria ranger Mathew Sobey said everything had been stripped clear.He said they would ramp up their security."This will put our bushfire preparations back; what is concerning is the communications equipment that's been stolen," Mr Sobey said.Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit was canvassing the scene for evidence yesterday. Detective Senior Constable Brian Malloch appealed to anyone with information to come forward."It's not a theft from Parks Victoria, it's a theft from the community," he said. Mr Sobey said the loss of the tools meant rangers could not do boundary clearing for some time.Anyone with details should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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