Burglary stash turns up in bush

CRANBOURNE Bowling Club members were at first bowled over but later relieved after a burglar’s stash was found shortly after a break-in.
After turning up at the lawn bowls club last Tuesday morning, members found that the machinery sheds had been broken into and an air vacuum, two fire hydrants, a grass trimmer, six jerry cans and a hedge trimmer were missing.
Bob Sorensen said the next day members were scouring some nearby bushes when they saw the stash hidden near the fence.
“A couple of days later a guy was walking his dog early in the morning when he saw a bloke come out of the bushes,” Mr Sorensen said.
“Obviously they were planning to come back.”
Wally Ballard, president of the Cranbourne Bowling Club, said it was lucky the club had got there first.
“As far as we know nothing is missing,” he said.
The items have been locked away to stop a repeat theft, the locks replaced and the wire fence, in which the thieves cut a hole, covered with corrugated iron.
Mr Ballard said the club had been lucky this time. In a previous break-in at the bowling club two lawn mowers had been stolen.
He said thieves had also broken into the centre a couple of times.
“This is the sort of thing you have to expect in Cranbourne now,” Mr Ballard said.
“You had the senior citizens’ centre broken into not that long ago as well.”
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Detective Senior Constable Ollie Gaspari at Cranbourne CIU, phone 5995 4577.