Tradies’ tools and cars targeted in Eaton crime spree

Thieves are targeting tradies’ vehicles and tools across Eaton’s northern streets in a crime spree that is infuriating police and residents.

Australind police have been forced to send out a warning to residents who are already taking security measures to protect their work gear after a spate of thefts.

Perhaps just as concerning is the information not being provided to police by residents, according to Australind police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Mark Smith.

“We’ve been doing a lot of door knocking today (Tuesday) and what we’re hearing from people is that they have disturbed someone or they heard something,” Sen. Sgt Smith said.

“All of this information that is now becoming available to us this morning, people just aren’t advising us. So we’re not in a position to respond in a timely way to the activity.”

Sen. Sgt Smith said several vehicles parked outside homes had been targeted over several nights since the weekend.

“Some vehicles have been unsecured, some actually had the padlocks cut so even for those who are taking security precautions unfortunately are still falling victim to these offenders,” he said.

“It’s effectively at night time, during the hours of darkness, between nine o’clock at night to six o’clock in the morning.”

Plumber Josh Rosel told the South Western Times it had been a “struggle” since thieves stole power tools from his vehicle at the weekend when it was parked outside his Eaton home.

“I just bought a new set of tools which was like $2400 and they’re all gone,” the 21-year-old said.

“It’s a very big inconvenience – because I’m a tradesman I go out on my own but I obviously can’t, I have to be with someone at the moment because I have no tools.

“It’s a struggle and also I’m trying to work out my insurance to get my tools back so I have to wait for that.

“We’ve worked hard to pay for these tools, it’s just not fair ... for them to just be stolen it’s just not right.”

Sen. Sgt Smith echoed concerns about the effect the thefts were having on people.

“These people are just trying to make a living and these parasites are stealing the tools of their trade so they can’t ... it has a huge impact on them,” he said.

He said police were looking at closed-circuit TV footage and encouraged anyone else with information or footage to contact them.

“We’ve got some other lines of inquiry that we’re following up on, so we’re hopeful of identifying the offenders sooner rather than later and making some arrests,” he said.