By Mitchell Clarke
A heartless thief has stolen a generator, three chainsaws and a range of hand tools from the Tonimbuk Recovery Centre.
The equipment, which belongs to the non-profit Lions Club International and was locked away in a shipping container at the time, is used by the bushfire recovery centre to assist with the fire clean-up.
A police report has been made – but it’s unclear when the incident occurred – with recovery centre staff working to the notion that the tools had been stolen sometime over the weekend.
“On Monday (24 February), we noticed that the pad locks on the shipping container had been cut,” bushfire recovery officer Bronwyn Fleming said.
“The shipping container has been there and filled with tools since about late March last year.”
Ms Fleming said it was “disappointing” to learn of the crime and even more upsetting it occurred just days before the one-year anniversary of the fires.
“They’re stealing from people who are still fighting the effects of fire,” Ms Fleming added.
“This equipment is still very-much needed by people of the community.“It’s just really disappointing for this to happen.”
Anyone with information about the theft should contact the Tonimbuk Recovery Centre or police.
