Police are urging tradies and DIY enthusiasts to secure and label their work tools.
Thirty thefts from vehicles have been reported in the Hawke’s Bay area in the last three months.
Police locate tools on a regular basis but most of them have not been engraved or the serial numbers recorded so these tools cannot be returned to their owners.
Police actively investigate stolen property and endeavour to hold offenders to account but we need owners to do their part to prevent theft.
‘If your tools can’t be identified, we can’t get them back to you and we can’t hold the offenders responsible,” says Senior Constable Potaka.
‘Tradies should also take care where they park their vehicles and remove their tools if possible.”
If you can’t park your vehicle in a secure garage, please take note of some security ideas to deter burglars and thieves.
Tips
- Always lock your vehicle and leave windows up.
- Park in well-lit areas when possible.
- Always lock any lock-boxes with reliable/solid locks when you leave your vehicle and take your keys with you – Especially hard or soft canopies on the rear of utility vehicles (utes).
- In addition to the hard canopies on utes and vans, police recommend alarming the back, where the tools are stored.
- Any boats, trailers or vehicles containing tools on your property should be disabled so they can’t be moved or towed away.
”Police take this offending seriously, we know the impact it has on victims, particularly when it’s someone’s livelihood being compromised,” says Potaka.
‘This type of offending results in financial hardship being placed on individuals and insurances premiums can be high. If your tools are your livelihood, we strongly encourage you to look after them.
‘We take burglary and theft incidents seriously, so if you see anything suspicious contact Police immediately on 105 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.’
