Men’s shed rammed in tools theft
Drouin Men's Shed and Drouin Golf Club located at Matthew Bennett Park have been targeted by thieves with equipment losses at the men's shed totalling in the order of $15,000 to $20,000.
Late last week, and a week after the robbery, men's shed members were still identifying items that had been stolen.
At the golf club, a utility that was stolen and believed to have been used by the thieves was recovered in town, and three motorised golf carts - one belonging to the club and two owned by members with a total value of about $15,000 - were taken from sheds, damaged beyond repair and found nearby in McGlone Rd.
Entry was forced by ramming roller doors to the sheds from which the equipment and golf carts were taken
Men's Shed losses included an oxyacetylene set, welder, cutters, band saws and a large range of hand tools.
Men's Shed president Brian Williams said it would be some time before the metal work section would be able to operate again as they waited on finalisation of an insurance claim before being able to acquire replacement equipment.
Added to that was the loss of revenue from products made by members and sold to individuals and local community and sporting clubs, he said.
CCTV footage identifying headlights of a car arriving and leaving the premises, indicated the robberies occurred between 11.01om and 11.53pm last Friday week, June 3.
Mr Williams said he was alerted to the break-in at 7.45am the following day by golf club manager Randall Mitchell.
Police arrived later in the morning to begin investigations.
A house owned by the golf club and within a few metres of one of the sheds that was broken into was between tenancies and unoccupied at the time.