Tradies targeted

TRADIES say they are fed up with a spike in crime at worksites, where they are being preyed upon by thieves and vandals.

The state’s builders’ association has called for a crackdown on the “dreadful behaviour”.

TRADIES are seeing a “worrying spike” in crime targeting worksites and vehicles and are fed up with being preyed upon by thieves and vandals.

The builders’ association has called for a crackdown on the “dreadful behaviour at a time when businesses and a lot of tradespeople are doing it tough”.

Master Builders Tasmania executive director Matthew Pollock said reports were on the rise and businesses in the state’s north were copping it worst.

He said the crimes were becoming more co-ordinated, which was a “major concern”.

“It can devastate a business,” he said.

“It can cost thousands of dollars not only in replacements potentially of materials, but it can raise premiums and excesses on insurance policies and cost thousands of dollars in mitigation in terms of having to buy cameras and security systems.”

Kyle Zanetto has been on the receiving end of the attacks.

The director of Launceston family business Zanetto Builders said criminals had repeatedly targeted a major subdivision development at Kings Meadows, including one of his own shipping containers.

It is believed a particular group of offenders enter worksites on motorbikes and use battery-powered tools to force their way into vehicles and storage containers.

“The boys got back [to our worksite] at 6.30am one morning and noticed that the container doors had been prised and tried to be pulled open,” Mr Zanetto said.

“We had a welded lockbox over the lock on the doors to prevent people breaking in, but that had been hacked and drilled.

“They didn’t get into ours luckily, but they’ve got into a few other people’s things up there.

“They’re obviously scoping the places out prior.”

Mr Zanetto has had two tool boxes broken into and said a friend had a large number of battery tools stolen last year with trailers “constantly” being targeted.

“You need your tools to make a living.

“If you don’t have your tools and if you can’t afford to buy new ones or if you don’t have insurance … you’re kind of in trouble.”

Launceston business Sheriff Civil Contracting had tens of thousands of dollars of property damaged and stolen from the same subdivision development last month.

One truck had its windows smashed, the door handle and lock pulled out and the interior of the cab torn apart.

Two excavators had multiple windows smashed and thousands of dollars worth of copper wire, quick-cut saws and pipe lasers were stolen from shipping containers.

Managing director Jason Sheriff said the business was insured, but paying excess for each vehicle was expensive.

Since then, he has installed lighting, CCTV and alarms throughout the worksite costing the business “well into the thousands”.

“It’s a cost we weren’t looking for, that’s for sure,” he said.

Mr Pollock said the crime was a “dreadful indictment” on the perpetrators while a lot of people were suffering.

Tasmania’s construction industry has lost more than 1200 jobs since COVID-19 restrictions came in.

Police investigating the above incidents are seeking information from anyone who can help identify those involved.

Information can be provided to Launceston CIB on 131 444 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au.