By Jessica Anstice
Robbers broke into a Drouin toy manufacturing facility over the weekend and stole up to $10,000 worth of equipment.
Police are investigating after a number of thieves forced entry into Drouin Wooden Toys on Princes Way during the early hours of Saturday morning, 1 August.
Saws, hand tools, batteries and battery chargers, drills, nail guns, biscuit machinery, wireless headphones and masks were among the items stolen from inside the workshop.
The offenders entered the factory through the side laundry door by forcing a roller door open.
“We never heard anything as the factory is partly joined by about five feet with the house. Luckily they couldn’t get into the house because it was locked,” Drouin Wooden Toys owner and toymaker Frank Couacaud said.
“They backed a vehicle into gates and knocked the gates over. They did it very quickly and quietly and they knew exactly what was here I think. And they were only interested in things they could quickly sell off to make money to buy drugs.
“This is the first time we’ve been robbed in 67 years of living on this premises. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before.”
As Mr Couacaud did not have the equipment in his factory insured, his generous son-in-law offered to cover all of the replacement expenses, as well as improved security instalments.
“My son-in-law insisted on paying for it all. He is very good to me. He also wants to pay for the outside flood lights to be strengthened,” Mr Couacaud said.
“It’s annoying but we just have to make sure that if they ever come back they won’t get in.
“For now we just need to keep going so we’re back working again. I’ve been making toys all my life, it’s my job and I love it.”
