Vuly Brisbane offers big reward after fifth break-in in two weeks

A business south of Brisbane has resorted to offering a big reward for information after their site was broken into five times in a fortnight. SEE THE VIDEO

A man with a limp, a woman with a husky voice — these are the descriptions witnesses have given of the alleged criminals terrorising Wakerley homes and businesses over the last two weeks.

Wakerley outdoor sports company Vuly has offered a $1000 reward in hopes of gaining information about a flurry of break-ins at their East Brisbane business since the start of the year.

“Vuly HQ in Ingleston Rd, Wakerley has been broken into five times in the last two weeks, most recently on the Australia Day holiday,” business operators said in a Facebook post which has been shared almost 200 times.

“Additionally our neighbouring businesses and houses have also been broken into.”

Wakerley outdoor sports company Vuly has offered a $1000 reward in hopes of gaining information on recent break-ins. Photo: Facebook

Vuly owner Joe Andon put a call out to the community to help catch the thieves.

“We are hoping the Brisbane community can come together to help us identify the perpetrators, we will be giving a $1000 reward for anybody who is the first to let us know their names.”

“I put out the video on social media with the reward in the hopes that one of our followers might recognise them,” Mr Andon said.

“I couldn’t sleep, every time I wanted to go to bed I thought I was going to get robbed.”

What started as an unassuming hole in the fence next to the dog park and a missing iPad, became two weeks of hell for Business owners, tenants and homeowners in the area, with the thieves slowly becoming emboldened and stealing more items.

A neighbouring business, one of Vuly’s tenants, had a substantial amount of copper cable stolen with a value of around $40,000.

In another incident the thieves have cut their way through the roof of a shipping container.

An alleged thief caught on camera after breaking into Vuly company property. Photo: Supplied

“It would have been a lot of work” Mr Andon said.

“With the amount of work they did, it would be less work for them to get a real job. They wouldn’t have to wake up so early, or take these crazy risks”.

Mr Andon said after the string of break-ins he went doorknocking in the area to see if anyone had seen anything.

Some locals were able to give him a description of people seen around the business, similar to those seen in CCTV footage of the break-ins — and to his surprise many of the homes he door knocked has also been broken into.

Two of the alleged thieves caught on security cameras on January 25th 2023. Photo: Supplied

After some sleepless nights, Mr Andon said it began taking its toll on him.

“Instead of going to bed I would get in the car and drive around, to see if I can see anything, and then I would just be standing there, in the middle of a field, feeling like an idiot instead of being asleep and being fresh for work the next day.

“I was sitting here thinking, I just can’t sit here for the rest of my life, I have a life to live, I better find another way to find these people, that’s when I put out the reward out for information on these people.”

Facebook user have come up with their own suggestions to help combat the thieves, one user recommending installing an electric fence, others advocated for guard dogs with one user humorously suggested “a trip wire that dumps a bucket of slime on their heads, home alone style.

“The police came out and did DNA and fingerprints, I've been very happy with their work. “But I want to be able to sleep at night, without thinking I’m going to be broken into.”

Originally published as Vuly Brisbane offers big reward after fifth break-in in two weeks