BRAZEN, callous and downright thoughtless thieves have stolen almost $10,000 worth of tools from a car while the driver was with his sick child in hospital.
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The broad-daylight theft from Drummond Street late on Thursday afternoon has left a family devastated and has police shaking their heads in disbelief at the lack of care some people have for others in the community.
The victim was at the St John of God Hospital when the theft happened sometime between 4.45pm and 6.20pm.
Victim Lucas Smith said it was “bloody frustrating”.
“This is actually the third time it’s happened,” he said. “As it has happened before, everything was under double lock and key and engraved, but they’ve drilled through to get at them.
“It’s the last thing you would ever think of happening outside a hospital. As I’m self employed, it’s not like you can just borrow tools either.”
First constable Ben Knight said he was appalled at the theft.
“To have a victim park their car and to be with their sick child and then to come back and have so much equipment stolen is disgraceful,” Constable Knight said.
“In all, there was $8300 worth of tools stolen. When we attended the scene there was some light in the sky, so the theft had to have happened in broad daylight.
“The thieves have used a drill to break through two locks and given the amount of equipment taken, they must have had a car to take the tools away.
“There has to have been people in the area who would have seen people drilling into the car, we are appealing for anyone who witnessed someone drilling into a white Isuzu to come forward and tell us what we know.”
Meanwhile, police are still on the hunt for thieves who have been breaking into four wheel drive vehicles in the past week.
Up to seven cars have been stolen, or attempted to be stolen, in the last few days.
Anyone with information about the theft of tools or the theft of four wheel drives and utes is asked to contact Ballarat Police on 5336 6000 or contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.