Tools targeted during significant increase in non-dwelling burglaries in Albany in first half of 2022

Albany police are calling on the community to help crack down on tool thefts after an alarming increase in non-dwelling burglaries so far this year. In the first half of 2022, the number of non-dwelling burglaries has risen by 75 per cent, while home burglaries have dropped by 3.5 per cent. Non-dwelling burglaries can includes commercial premises or outbuildings on residential properties. Tools including chainsaws, blowers, drills, whipper snippers and other electrical items are among the items being targeted. Of the 32 reported burglaries involving tool thefts, 12 were from unsecured buildings, 15 were from secured buildings and five were home burglaries. Albany Senior Constable Luke Chantler said they had recovered some of the stolen tools and charged several offenders. “As a result of a targeted police operation, several search warrants were executed with property being recovered and offenders processed,” Sen. Const. Chantler said. “One of those offenders is currently serving a term of imprisonment. “Albany police are continuing their work on the identification of crime trends and ensuring resources are tasked appropriately.” Police have boosted patrols of crime “hot spots”, increased their focus on known thieves and drug offenders, and started reviewing all reports to ensure investigations have been exhausted. Sen. Const. Chantler said the community could help by ensuring they lock up, consider installing security cameras, mark tools for easy identification and record serial numbers. He said police would set up a truck at local tool shops next week with a free engraving service to encourage people to mark their items and store them securely. Police will be at Tool Kit Depot on Saturday, July 16 and Bunnings on Sunday, July 17. “Albany police recently executed a search warrant and recovered over 20 items of tools,” he said. “We have been unable to reunite these tools with owners as there are no identifying features and some incidents go unreported..” He urged people report all suspicious behaviour to police. “There is community misconceptions information given to Crime Stoppers is not actioned,” Sen. Const. Chantler said. “One bit of information tends to lead to a bigger picture. “There might not be any direct action based on one piece of information at the time but every bit of information is recorded on intelligence systems and is read, allocated to stations or officers and processed appropriately.”