$10k worth of tools pinched from young tradie despite trailer lock
Tradies are being warned to engrave their tools, properly secure their trailers and park them in driveways at night following the theft of $10,000 worth of tools from Ocean Grove.
Geelong
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Tradies are being warned to engrave their tools, properly secure their trailers and park them in drive ways at night following the theft of $10,000 worth of tools from Ocean Grove.
Builder Jake LaMaistre, 22, who has been fully qualified for about a year, spent five years accumulating his tools but was left unable to work after the theft of his trailer and tools early on Tuesday morning.
“I had a trailer lock on my tow ball that locked my trailer to my car. They’ve actually managed to take the actual tow ball as well,” Mr LaMaistre said.
“I’ve been working since I was 17 and all my tools I’ve bought over the years (were in the trailer). It had locks on both sides. I didn’t think taking the whole tow ball would be an option.”
Mr LaMaistre, a fourth generation builder, said he would rely on borrowed tools to complete his work.
He said his $4000 8m x 5m tandem trailer was stolen from his Parkside Boulevard home in the Kingston estate about 2:30am Tuesday.
Mr LaMaistre said the trailer housed tools worth between $300 and $1000 each which included a battery nail gun, battery saw, socket sets and drills.
The stolen trailer was found empty and dumped at Banks Rd, Drysdale, on Tuesday about 9am but Mr LaMaistre’s tools are yet to be found.
Mr LaMaistre said the back and side of his car were damaged when thieves made off with his trailer.
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Bellarine Police Senior Sergeant Adrian Bickley urged tradies to remove their most valuable tools from their trailers after work.
“It’s incumbent on the tradies to be smarter in regards to the way they go about locking down their equipment at the end of a hard day at work,” Sen-Sgt Bickley said.
“If possible, it would be better for (tradies) to take (their trailers) into the their premises, down the driveway to ensure access to the trailer is limited.
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“(Tradies should) put some kind of identifying feature on their valuables; engrave your phone number, engrave your name. Victoria Police can assist with that if required.
“It’s all about making it harder for the offender to then onsell the items they have stolen.”
The Ocean Grove tool theft follows a similar incident in Geelong West in June when a $5000 customised builder’s trailer with about $10,000 worth of tools was stolen from a home.
Anyone with information on the Ocean Grove theft is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as $10k worth of tools pinched from young tradie despite trailer lock