Above: Firefighters attempt to put out the fire that destroyed Dahlsens Timber and Hardware in Cranbourne.By Sarah Schwager
POLICE have linked a fire that destroyed a Cranbourne timber yard to a burglary at the yard’s office building.
Fire devastated Dahlsens Timber and Hardware centre on the South Gippsland Highway on Tuesday 2 October with approximately $100,000 worth of hardware stock and office equipment going up in smoke.
This week Senior Constable Tracey Arnold from Cranbourne CIU said the fire appeared to be the result of a break-in at the office at the centre.
Sen Const Arnold said that when branch manager John Boomsma arrived at the building at 6am he found the security alarm keypad had been punched in and computer equipment on the floor on fire.
She said it appeared a cash-tin containing $500 was stolen while files from cabinets in the office were strewn on the floor along with three computers that had been removed from desks and also placed on the floor.
Some sort of accelerant had then been poured over the papers and files and set alight.
Dahlsens Building Centres spokesman Carson Backhouse said the fire in the office spread very quickly and engulfed the hardware area within minutes.
Mr Backhouse said Mr Boomsma acted quickly to remove his staff to a safe distance outside the site in anticipation of explosions.
“He was right to do so as they exploded soon afterwards,” he said.
CFA crews from Cranbourne, Devon Meadows, Hampton Park, Dandenong, Clyde and Skye arrived shortly afterwards but by then the front building was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke.
However, firefighters managed to contain the fire to the front shop and hardware area before it spread to the warehouse, which was full of timber, with only the top of the rear building sustaining any real damage.
“There were no injuries to staff, customers or the general public. Amazingly Dahlsens have resurrected the site and it’s now business as usual,” Mr Backhouse said.
Anyone with information about the fire and burglary is urged to contact Senior Constable Chris Nieuwesteeg at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
