By Brendan Rees
A tradie has been left gutted after tools worth thousands of dollars were stolen from his ute at the Cranbourne Racecourse last weekend.
Andy Nassau, of Cranbourne West, said his car was parked on the grass at the racecourse at about 12pm on Sunday, 1 April while he spent time with his eight month old daughter at the Easter Show.
Mr Nassau returned to his ute about 2pm to find the locks on his tool boxes forced opened.
Thieves allegedly made away with his WIA arc welder, a Milwaukee cordless kit, including a hammer drill, grinder, impact gun, six batteries and a six dock charger – valued at $2,500.
“I there not even two hours and come back to my car and it’s busted open,” he said.
“They’ve put a set of vice grips on there or some sort of locking mechanism and they’ve bent it.”
Mr Nassau said he was absolutely devastated.
“For all I know when I was standing around my car realising that all my tools are gone, it could’ve been in a car with 10 to 15 minutes of me.”
“I wish I could have my own vigilant justice put it that way.”
He said he tried to park closer to the racecourse entrance but was directed to park further out onto the grass area.
“Somebody could’ve packed it (the tools) into their car and gone and enjoyed the rest of the festival,” he said.
“I’ve had terrible luck lately. I’m getting an operation in a few weeks because I’ve got a crushed artery in my left arm.”
“Falling behind in funds and then somebody goes and pinches $2,500 worth of my stuff.”
Unfortunately, he said he couldn’t claim the loss on insurance as it wasn’t part of his policy.
Mr Nassau has appealed on Facebook’s Casey Crime Page for any witnesses to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Cranbourne Police on 5991 0600.
He said he may also be contacted on 0401 798 710.
