Break-ins look like targeted thefts
Two South Canterbury community organisations, one staffed by volunteers, have been targeted by brazen thieves, leaving them thousands of dollars out of pocket.
The Pleasant Point Museum and Railway and the Timaru Town and Country Club were both broken into over the weekend and members of both groups are fuming over what appears to be targeted thefts.
At the museum in Pleasant Point the theft means the group is now at a standstill with preparations for its busy Labour Weekend activities.
President Bryan Blanchard said four chainsaws totalling almost $5000 in value had been stolen from a shed following a forced entry.
Nothing else in the shed was touched, which makes Blanchard think the thieves knew what they were after.
"Someone knew they were there – it’s someone in the know.’’
Blanchard said CCTV footage had captured images of a vehicle near the scene about 3am on Saturday but it was grainy and no clear details could be retrieved, he said. ‘‘It was dark, there were no lights and nothing was identifiable.’’
The organisation, staffed by about 15 volunteers, needs the chainsaws to keep up-to-date with its firewood supply.
The firewood is used to fuel the locomotives – with about 1000 people expected to visit the facility over Labour Weekend – Blanchard said.
‘‘We rely on that wood to keep the trains rolling. I was devastated when I found out.’’
Blanchard said the matter had been reported to police and the museum was insured.
‘‘Please return them,’’ was his message to the thieves.
‘‘It is very tough when this happens to a voluntary organisation. The money we have used to pay for those chainsaws has come from the museum and not grants.’’
Blanchard said a volunteer had loaned the museum a chainsaw in the meantime.
Museum vice-president Bill Noble said the chainsaws were of the Husqvarna brand, including 142, 235, 460 and 395xp models.
‘‘They are vital to what we do,’’ Noble said. ‘‘It feels like a kick in the guts.
‘‘It will put us back to a certain extent, we are basically at a standstill until we get replacements.’’
At the Timaru Town and Country Club, manager Vince Gardner said the venue was targeted about 3am on Sunday.
A padlocked gate was broken, and a padlocked chiller, situated in a compound containing premix alcoholic drinks, were raided in the incident.
Gardner was still unsure how much alcohol had been taken but estimated it was worth between $500 and $1000.
Two empty wheelie bins were also taken and later retrieved from the neighbouring Highfield Golf Course, he said.
‘‘They’ve cut off the padlocks and helped themselves to RTDs [ready-to-drinks], and packaged beer.’’
Gardner said he was notified via a security company though his smart phone that the alarms had gone off on Sunday morning.
A security patrol did attend the scene and reported it as secure, he said.
It was not until Sunday morning when staff turned up for work that the break in was discovered, Gardner said.
The club has a $1000 insurance excess and it would cost thousands more to increase security.