Livingstone Shire Council ramps up depot security amid thieves’ activity

Could it be three strikes and you’re out for thieves who have repeatedly targeted the council works depot at Yeppoon? Ratepayers hope so.

The Livingstone Shire Council works depot at Yeppoon and (inset) Mayor Andy Ireland.

After being hit by thieves three times in a short period, Livingstone Shire Council’s works depot has been forced to beef up security.

In fairness to the council, it did not wait for the third strike to happen before acting - in fact extra security measures already in place may have prevented more vehicles being stolen from the Cordingley Street facility in the latest attack.

On November 24 last year, workers arrived at the depot to discover thieves had cut through the perimeter fence and forced entry to locked sheds and key safes before stealing three utilities.

Two of those vehicles were later found torched.

Then on January 4, thieves cut through the newly replaced fencing, this time forcing their way through secure windows to gain access to offices before stealing a utility and a truck.

Those vehicles were dumped by the offenders and have since been recovered.

The third attack on the depot proved less fruitful, Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland explained.

“After the first incident, council’s facilities team got to work straight away to implement extra security,” Mr Ireland said.

“We’ve installed tougher security screens and additional CCTV cameras, along with relocating all vehicle and plant keys to more robust safes in an alarmed building.

“Contractors have been on-site to provide quotations for the installation of additional intruder alarms and lighting, and we are proposing to install a crash gate at the rear of the depot.

“This extra security appears to have helped as there was a third attempted break-in recently that was unsuccessful and only minor damage was caused.”

Mr Ireland said it was hoped these measures would prevent any future break-ins and mitigate the impact incidents such as these had on council’s service delivery to the community.

“Council is obviously very disappointed by these audacious strikes and while the theft has been a very unfortunate occurrence, it has not affected our wider works programme,” he said.

The council said it was working with Queensland Police Service to investigate these incidents.

Anyone who has information about the break-ins or who witnesses any unusual behaviour in the future is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.