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Police are encouraging Rodney residents to be vigilant amid reports of increasingly brazen burglary attempts.
Warkworth plumber Jason Wech had his workshop in Glenmore Drive broken into and copper pipes stolen this month. Jason caught the offender on CCTV, but they remain at large. He is now in the process of building a bigger fence.
“It’s hard, because if thieves want to take something, they will find a way,” he says. Builder Nick Dobbyn has been the victim of theft three times in the last two years.
He says that on one occasion, $70,000 worth of tools were stolen. The loss wasn’t covered by his insurance because the tools were in his shed and not his work vehicle.
This month his car was broken into at his house in Wyllie Road and his tools were stolen again.
“It is a bit crap when someone takes your tools because you have to start from scratch. I haven’t got 30 grand to buy new tools to keep working.”
Nick has been unable to work as a builder while his insurance claim is processed, but has found temporary work on a digger.
Philip Solaris was working in his garage in Matheson Bay around midnight when he heard someone opening his car door outside.
“The dog started barking so I went to take a look and saw a man running back across the road. It was just fortunate there was nothing in the car to steal,” Philip says.
He has subsequently identified the man he saw fleeing the property, but has not approached Police because there was no evidence and nothing was taken.
Warkworth Police Sergeant Mark Stallworthy says statistically, theft has not increased in recent months but brazen burglaries have highlighted the issue.
He says tools and construction materials may be a popular target for thieves servicing a methamphetamine addiction as they can be quickly converted into cash.
He says it is a timely reminder to be vigilant about theft and there are steps that tradies can take to deter thieves. Warkworth Police have been attending tradies’ breakfasts to provide engraving on tools.
The Warkworth station also has innovative “invisible ink” markers which can be used to write on tools and then viewed by Police with an ultraviolet light torch.
Sgt Stallworthy also encourages tradies to purchase GPS trackers for tools. They are available for around $50 online and some tool manufacturers are including them as standard.
He says people also need to be extra cautious about buying tools from online marketplaces where there is no accountability for the sale of stolen goods.
“Don’t buy anything with the serial numbers removed,” he says.
Most importantly, Police want the public to call in any suspicious activity.
“We are on patrol 24/7 but we rely on public information to respond. If in doubt, call it in.”
