BALLARAT tradies are being targeted by criminals stealing trailers and tools, with police reporting a spike in thefts in recent weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Miners Rest and Invermay Park properties have been the hardest hit, with some criminals also stealing cars.
Carpenter Damien Moran said his brother-in-law had his trailer stolen, before the thieves returned 10 minutes later to rob his house and take the family car.
“Thefts are becoming more and more common and it’s getting too close to home,” he said.
In another incident, thieves stole a painter’s trailer from the driveway of his Invermay Park home.
The painter, who did not wish to be named, said he had parked the locked trailer out the front ahead of work the next morning.
“We had everything in there; we had just painted a house and were going back the next day,” he said.
Ladders, roller brushes and spray guns were inside the trailer.
“Thefts are becoming more and more common and it’s getting too close to home"
- Damien Moran, carpenter
The trailer was found dumped, without the equipment, in Wendouree the next day. The painter’s tools have not been located.
He said tradesman trailers were perceived as an easy target.
“It’s quick dollars for (the thieves); everything in the trailer is worth a lot of money. Even the second-hand stuff is stolen for cash.”
He said police were now patrolling the Miners Rest and Invermay Park areas.
“It’s scary. We have good neighbours and when they heard about the trailer they were making sure they locked their house.”
That theft came a week after Miners Rest electrician Beau Glenister was robbed.
Mr Glenister had $2000 worth of new power tools taken from his work ute between April 27 and 28. A grinder, impact driver, hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, torch, batteries, charger and radio were stolen.
The father-of-one believed people were stealing valuable tools, off-selling and using the money for drugs. “It seems like people are stealing valuable things like tradies’ tools and as soon as they can sell it, (they) spend the money on drugs,” he said.
The painter urged all Ballarat tradesmen to remain vigilant.
“Be very careful; make sure you are locking up your trailer,” he said.
“We have an alarm on the house, but are looking into installing security cameras.”
Ballarat Police Divisional Response Unit confirmed it had received reports about the incidents.
Sergeant Joanne Graham said the painter’s trailer had since been recovered, but nobody had been charged or arrested in relation to the thefts so far.
“Police would like to remind residents to be vigilant and to not leave valuables unsecured,” she said.
Residents are urged to report suspicious behaviour via triple zero. Anyone with further information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
CCTV footage shows thieves return to rob house, steal car
OPPORTUNISTIC thieves stole a carpenter’s work trailer, before returning 10 minutes later to rob his house.
Damien Moran was house-sitting for his brother-in-law and his sister when their Miners Rest property was robbed on Saturday, May 2.
Mr Moran said thieves had hooked up their car to his brother-in-law’s work trailer between 9.30pm and 10pm.
According to the couple’s CCTV outside the house, the thieves returned about 10 minutes later to steal the family car and rob the house.
Jewellery, a telescope, car keys, quad bike and a treasured children’s soft toy were stolen during the raid.
Nail guns, hand drills and power saws are believed to have been inside the trailer at the time of the theft.
Police were notified of the incident and are investigating.
Mr Moran said the theft was too close to home.
“Thefts are becoming more and more common and it’s getting too close to home,” he said. “People I know are now getting things stolen.”
Mr Moran said he would consider installing a security system at his own house.
“I am a carpenter and I happen to have tools in a work shed,” he said. “I am thinking of getting a good alarm system.”
Mr Moran passed on the CCTV footage to police.
Ballarat’s Divisional Response Unit confirmed it had received a report relating to the theft of a trailer, VE Commodore wagon and burglary on May 3.
Sergeant Joanne Graham said nobody had been charged or arrested in relation to the incident so far.
Sergeant Graham reminded residents to call triple zero immediately if they witnessed suspicious behaviour.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 18000 333 000.
