Tool theft is rife in Hume, but police say tradies are their own worst enemies when it comes to fuelling the crime.
Police statistics reveal Hume is the third- worst area in the state for prevalence of tool theft, preceded only by Greater Geelong and Casey.
Sergeant Cam Ryan, of the Hume criminal investigation unit at Broadmeadows, said the drug ice was fuelling a lot of burglaries, but tradesmen were also to blame.
“The tradesmen are the ones buying cheap tools off the crooks,” he said. “It’s them buying the tools that fuels the crimes. They’re creating a rod for their own back.”
New Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data reveals that 298 thefts of tools from vehicles were reported in Hume in the 12 months to September last year. Greater Geelong had 336 recorded offences; Casey had 322.
In the same period, 199 instances of stolen tools were recorded in Whittlesea.
Cost of tool theft
The data cites the value of the tools stolen in Hume in that 12-month period as more than $541,000 – up from just over $495,000 the previous year.
The average value of tools stolen in a single haul was more than $1816, slightly down from a loss valued at $1950 the previous year.
The CSA’s figures reveal that tools valued at more than $11 million were stolen across Victoria in the same 12 months, to last September 30.
Detective Sergeant Peter Griffiths, also of Hume CIU, said tradesmen could take steps to prevent their equipment being stolen, such as painting it bright pink or engraving their driver’s licence number onto each item.
“And if they see someone approach a worksite selling tools … politely decline and take down their registration plate,” he advised.
Master Builders Association of Victoria chief executive Radley de Silva said stolen tools were taking a heavy toll on builders, particularly in smaller businesses, and on apprentices who couldn’t afford to readily replace their losses.
A recent police blitz, Operation Tool Safe, targeted the issue of theft on building sites across Melbourne’s north and west, offering information about how best to keep tools safe.
