By Brendan Rees
A tradie has been left gutted after his agricultural machine worth $45,000 was allegedly pinched from a work site in Clyde North.
Mick Matthews says his telehandler which has a forklift was locked behind temporary fencing on Heather Grove when it was taken sometime between 22-25 March.
He has now offered a $1000 reward to anyone with information that leads the machine’s recovery.
According to Mr Mathews the bandits lifted one of the hinges to the temporary fencing and entered the site.
“You can undo the nuts with a shifter and open up a section, only takes two minutes,” he said. “It’s so easy to do.”
“They knew what they were looking for.”
He said the telehandler weighted about seven tonne and was used for the construction of a walkway bridge across a lake.
Mr Matthews, the owner of M&M Rigging, said the machine was needed for one more day at the site when he discovered it missing on Monday 25 March.
“I had to hire a machine to finish that last day off. I found it very difficult to do the day’s work,” he said.
Adding to his frustration was that he had also sold the telehandler: “Bloke came and put a deposit on it and that happened.”
“It is low. We’ve only been in business for three-and-half-years. Started doing alright and something like that goes and kills it,” he said.
“It could be in Adelaide or Sydney now; it could be in parts on a container ship you don’t know.
“The machine was locked but it has to have a Manitou key, most Manitou keys all fit the same.
“I just didn’t know who to trust, whether someone knew about it or what, you don’t know if you’re talking to the person who stole it,” he said.
Cranbourne police are investigating. Anyone with information may contact Mr Matthews is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
