Thieves break into Mortlake Outdoor Swimming Pool stealing donation money and other valuable items

Thieves have broken into the Mortlake pool, stealing fundraiser money and laptops.

The Mortlake Outdoor Swimming Pool was broken into over the weekend. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Employees at a Mortlake business are devastated after discovering thieves had broken in and stolen money and laptops.

The Mortlake Outdoor Swimming Pool had unwanted visitors over the weekend, taking a lifeguard’s two laptops, hard drives and money raised from a sausage sizzle held on Friday.

It is believed the incident occurred between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Saturday at the Jamieson Ave property.

Lifeguard Harry Coffey expressed his disappointment on Facebook.

“It’s extremely poor that you smashed the things you did and stole all the money people have been kindly donating over the summer,” he said.

“That money goes towards play equipment, inflatables and improvements around the pool facility which are greatly appreciated by the pool users.”

Mr Coffey was “shattered” when his two laptops were stolen along with the hard drives.

“You stole my two laptops with all my memories and my teaching resources I need for work. You don’t realise how badly I need these,” he said.

“Mortlake is a fantastic community, full of good, honest and hard working people and your actions go against everything the community values.”

It comes after Mortlake community members took to Facebook to say they’d seen an increase in property crime in the town.

Whetu Sciascia and Emma Hughes both said in a post they had heard dogs barking last week about 2am.

Sharee Mckay also witnessed a man dragging something behind him walking close to fences in Hopetoun St who then entered down West St.

It is unknown whether the thieves who have broken into residents’ yards are the same thieves who broke into the Mortlake pool.

Despite the burglary occuring at the Mortake Outdoor Pool, the business reopened on Sunday for the warm weather.

Crime in Mortlake increased by almost 20 per cent in 2022, according to Crime Statistics Victoria.

A police spokesperson said if someone was a victim of a burglary, they should inform police at the earliest opportunity.

Anyone who witnessed the thefts or has more information is advised to contact the Mortlake Police Station on [phone] or Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.