‘Frustrating’: AIM Hire furious after 20 portaloos go missing

A portaloo has gone missing once every 22 days over the last month for one company in the Geelong region, but the perp could be within arms reach.

AIM Hire says 20 portaloos have gone missing in the past 14 months.

A furious hire company is reeling from the loss of 20 stolen portaloos, believing it to be the work of one man.

Since April AIM Hire has been robbed of one of its hired-out loos every 22 days in the Geelong region.

The toilets, which cost about $2k new, have a knack of showing up on Facebook Marketplace shortly after going missing, with price tags as low as $900.

Managing director Elise Kelsey said she’s had enough of this crap.

“It’s really frustrating,” Ms Kelsey said.

AIM Hire managing director Elise Kelsey.

“It’s not a great time for residential building at the moment, it’s in a bit of a slump.

“I’ve had to reach out to community noticeboards, we just don’t know what else to do.”

Ms Kelsey believes it is likely the work of one man, who steals the loos to resell online at a significant discount.

“He picks a toilet that’s been recently delivered, because he doesn't want the ones that have been there a while,” she said.

“I told the police, but they can’t do much.”

A quasi-sting operation almost caught the thief earlier this week, when the friend of an AIM employee tried to purchase one.

“Someone went to buy it, and instantly said ‘that’s not your toilet, that’s an AIM Hire toilet’,” Ms Kelsey said.

“This guy said ‘oh no, it’s not, it’s an ex-building site toilet’ and he took off in his car.”

The man is described by Ms Kelsey as having a white van with a trailer.

An AIM hire portaloo at a job site in Mount Duneed where one was stolen earlier this month.

This meeting came after the 20th loo was stolen from a job site on Feehans Rd in Mount Duneed earlier this month.

The toilets have been swiped from job sites across Geelong, from Armstrong Creek to Lara.

The growth zone between Torquay and Geelong seems to be the thief’s favourite area to strike, with most thefts occurring in the Armstrong Creek and Charlemont area.

Ms Kelsey is asking residents in those areas to remain vigilant and pass on any relevant information to the company.

Originally published as ‘Frustrating’: AIM Hire furious after 20 portaloos go missing