Burglars target chainsaws again

Albany police are concerned by the targeting of businesses selling outdoor power equipment after the theft of four chainsaws from Star Sales and Service last weekend.

The chainsaws, valued at $5600 in total, were stolen from the Chester Pass Road premise during the early hours of Sunday.

The theft was captured on CCTV, which shows a small hooded burglar with gloves take four chainsaws off the wall and hand them through a window in under a minute.

Star Sales and Service owner Mike Tompkins said the offender had concealed his face with the hooded jumper, leaving little chance of him being identified.

He said the inconvenience the burglary had on the business was disappointing and all he could do was to increase security further.

“It’s like a home invasion — it’s the uncertainly of when it’s going to happen next,” he said.

Senior Constable Dean Bristow said police were investigating the incident and were making inquiries into a white car which left the scene, which could be linked to a burglary at Marshall Mowers in September.

Marshall Mowers has been targeted by thieves twice this year, with three chainsaws stolen during a break-in last month. In May, an Albany man was arrested and charged over the theft of six chainsaws and a hedge trimmer from Marshall Mowers but the outdoor power equipment was not recovered.

Star Sales and Service is offering a reward for information which leads to the arrest of the offenders.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Albany police on 131 444.