By Cam Lucadou-Wells
All for the sake of $300 – two burglars bludgeoned their way into a tyre shop in Lonsdale Street Dandenong, and then towed out a 100-kilogram safe of cash.
The damage bill totals about $10,000 for the Bob Jane T-Marts business, says its owner Neil Finlayson.
Not to mention the inconvenience of organising insurance and tradespeople to repair internal and external doors, walls, glass panes, security shutters and a replacement safe.
All prior to flying out to Adelaide for his aunt’s funeral that day.
“As my wife said, we work hard for our money,” Mr Finlayson said.
“(The burglars) need to earn their own.
“I’ve got a wife and three kids to feed, seven staff members to support. And this just eats into it.”
It was the fifth break-in in seven years, but the latest was the most violent, Mr Finlayson said.
Arriving in a silver VZ Commodore, the thieves were initially unable to force open the front doors about 3am on Monday 6 May.
They tried attaching cables from the car to the store’s doors and towing them ajar – but with little success.
Twenty minutes later, they returned with sledgehammers and hammers to “well and truly demolish” the glass doors..
The burglars attached the cables to the safe and tried to tow it out of a backroom.
They eventually dragged the safe along the floor, through the smashed door and heaved it into the car boot.
Mr Finlayson was alerted by a call from a security company. The intruders fled before police and Mr Finlayson arrived.
“It’s also the effect it has on the family life – they hear about it and they question how safe it is,” Mr Finlayson said.
“It’s a real invasion.”
He is hopeful but not confident that the culprits will get a punishment that fits the crime.
Any information to Greater Dandenong CIU on 9767 7487 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
