A hidden camera has captured a thief stealing tools from a tradie’s ute in Kew

A CUNNING tradie admits he left the back of his ute unlocked to lure a thief to steal his tools, so he could catch the act on a hidden camera. Here’s why he took the risk.

A TRADIE turned sleuth set up a hidden camera in the boot of his ute after getting sick and tired of thieves stealing his tools.

Footage captured from the camera shows the thief rifling through the car’s cabin in Kew at 1.10am on March 13 and using a torch to cherry pick his loot.

The young man is then seen fleeing with a battery charger.

Builder Jamie Grenfell said he deliberately left the back of his ute unlocked to lure the robber in the hopes he would catch him in the act. VICTORIA — THE CAR THEFT CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA

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Mr Grenfell hatched the plan to “set a trap” after having more than $7,000 worth of equipment stolen from his car last week — detectives believe the incidents may be linked.

“And it worked!” Mr Grenfell told 3AW radio.

“The trap was set … the photo is a cracker,” he said.

A man is caught rifling through a man's ute in Kew. Picture: Victoria Police.

The man uses a torch to cherry pick his loot before stealing a battery charger.

Mr Grenfell said it costs him about $650 to install three cameras in his car and outside his home and said the plan has paid off.

“It’s my livelihood, I’m actually borrowing tools from another builder until my insurance comes through,” he said.

Mr Grenfell said the latest incident was the sixth time he’d been robbed in three years and said apprentices were now being warned at trade school to “expect to be broken into every two years.”

“It’s so common,” he said. “They go and smash everything up and take what they want.
Detective Senior Constable Ben Mahon, from Boroondara Crime Investigation Unit, told the Herald Sun he wanted tradies to contact Crime Stoppers if somebody turns up at a work site trying to sell tools.

“If there are tradies out there who see someone trying to sell tools they need to get in touch,” Sen Con Mahon said.

“It could be their tools stolen next time. The victim here has been very proactive. He has spent $600 to set up the camera but that is a small price to pay when you consider he had more than $7000 worth of his tools stolen.

“It has given us clear images of the person of interest.

“If he sees it he might want to hand himself in. Or if anybody sees the image and recognises him they should contact police or Crime Stoppers.”

Detectives are hunting the thief who they believe may be the same person who targeted Mr Grenfell’s car on March 6.

Investigators have released CCTV footage of the incident and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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