'Brazen' thieves target tradesmen

Western Bay tradesmen are being warned to secure their vehicles and worksites after a spate of burglaries has seen up to $100,000 worth of tools go missing.

Papamoa Police Sergeant Phil Gillbanks says builders and plumbers have been the main targets, although some other trades have also been affected by the 'brazen' thieves who he believes are linked to organised crime or the illegal drug trade.


Photo: File.

Everything from tool belts through to high-end power tools have been stolen from a number of sites in and around the Papamoa area, but home appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and stoves which had yet to be installed are also being taken.

'They are two separate incidents but we're not beyond the belief that they are linked with a criminal group that's targeting these things.

'We'd be talking over $100,000 worth of tools that have been stolen in the last few months. We've made a number of arrests in regards to the thefts. There are still active persons committing the same thefts.”

Sergeant Gillbanks says they were still investigating where the tools were ending up.

'Our appeal is to the community and members of the community to come forward to provide us with information as to where [the stolen items] are going.”

'These thefts are affecting people's lives and livelihoods. I've had tradesmen almost in tears standing at my public counter reporting these thefts.”

Police are asking tradesmen and members of the public to help in bringing an end to these types of incidents.

He says; 'From the trades people themselves we need them to: a) make sure they've locked their vehicles and b) they are securing them off the road and consider putting alarms in their vehicles.

'We're also asking the public to call us if they hear or see anything suspicious in and around these residential sights of construction or around the person's property.”

Sergeant Gillbanks says he is concerned about the types of tools that were going missing.

'We've had numerous heavy, large items such as tool bags and heavy duty construction tools stolen.

'Now they're not easy to steal without making a sound. So somebody at some point must have heard something. But we're just not getting the reports.”

Although there isn't any immediate evidence there is a black market for the stolen tools, Phil says they were definitely organised.

'My experiences tells me these types of incidents are strongly related to criminal, organised groups and/or the supply of illicit drugs.”

He says the police are working hard to catch those involved in the thefts.

'We have, in fact, located a number of offenders that are appearing before the courts on a number of charges in relation to thefts from building sites and tradesperson's vehicles.

'The problem is it's still continuing. There is obviously a larger group involved and the public hold the key that will be able to help us put a stop to this.”

He says theft of tradesperson's tools has been an ongoing problem, but police have seen an notable increase in the last couple of months.

'The concern is that tradies and their sites are being seen as an easy target,” he adds. 'So we need to change that perception of them being an easy target.”

A director of a development company who did not want to be identified told SunLive they had been targeted by thieves twice in the last month.

The director says specialised equipment had been used to break into lock boxes which contained tools.

He had heard of other companies working in Sandhurst Drive, Goldensands and The Lakes who had also been hit by thieves.

If you have any information which may help, contact Papamoa Police on: (07) 572 2440.

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4 comments

Cul-de-suc surveillance

Posted on 26-08-2015 12:48 | By Adrian Muller

As Papamoa East of Parton Road has only one exit route, I suggest the police set up a camera to record all traffic leaving the area at night, and vans/trucks leaving after mid-night would probably include the culprits for police to follow up on.


No win?

Posted on 26-08-2015 13:08 | By Graham

This scum even steals from "secure" vehicles!


Scum

Posted on 27-08-2015 10:13 | By Rate1

They are the lowest of the lowest - scum that's what they are. probably never worked ever.


What scum....

Posted on 28-08-2015 22:08 | By GreertonBoy

Why not set them up? Get some dye bombs from a friendly bank type person and look for the people with the fluorescent pink faces and hands? Cameras... cameras are cheap.... hunting cameras.... they record movement.... set them around building sites and in vans and trailers... some cameras show real time, so you can record them even if they steal the camera. Take turns at sleeping out on sites and see if anyone turns up in the wee hours.... or even early evening? It cant be that hard to catch them...tea leaves are normally too greedy to be smart as well. What about tracking devices in tools/appliances left there on purpose? See where they go once stolen? Be smarter than the crooks. Tradies..get together and set these mongrels up.... catch them red handed...so they will at least get a smack on the hand and another light sentence(add sarcasm here)


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