By NOEL MURPHY
TRADERS are reeling after thieves launched a barrage of attacks on South Geelong businesses, stealing cars and tools, cracking safes, damaging premises and escaping unscathed.
Police are investigating multiple break-ins along Fyans St, where the thieves targeted car yards and trade premises over two weekends.
Two BMWs and a Subaru worth more than $45,000 were stolen from Mike Hanneysee Motors along with keys to all the yard’s cars from a safe forced open.
Petrol jerry cans were stolen from a nearby Geelong Mowers Stihl franchise, which also incurred $5000 damage to a fuel storage.
Byars Flexible Packaging reported stolen cash and damage costing $3000.
The thieves also broke into other businesses, smashing windows, rifling through files and drawers and leaving contents strewn about in the hunt for valuables.
“They smashed windows, broke into workshops, used angle grinders to break into safes and broke into all the cars,” Justin Hanneysee said.
A Byars spokesperson said the robberies were a “very costly exercise” in lost property and upgrading surveillance.
“They were very quick and very cunning.”
Security information revealed the thieves launched multiple attacks at night and during broad daylight over two weekends.
“They were very brazen to do what they did,” the Byars spokesperson said.
Geelong Mowers’ Michael Bakker said eight security cameras and beams on doors failed to deter the thieves from breaking into the back of his building and stealing tools.
“We’re all a bit shell-shocked, especially the car traders.”
First Choice Car Sales’ John Davis said his office was “ransacked” but nothing valuable was taken.
“They forced a back window then jemmied opened filing cabinets and desks and threw stuff everywhere.
“They wreaked havoc but didn’t get any more than an unopened packet of Jatz crackers – I wouldn’t mind giving them a kick in the Jatz crackers.”
Geelong CIU Detective Senior Constable Daryl Crosthwaite said the attack on at least seven businesses was a “timely reminder for people to look at their security”.
Anyone with information should call the CIU on 5225 3285, he said.
