By JESSE GRAHAM
UPDATE: Friday, 16 October
THE YARRA Glen Men’s Shed has been devastated by a second robbery in the last three weeks, with a bolted-down safe torn out from the shed and dumped in the Yarra River.
President Terry Hallpike told the Mail that he arrived at the shed on Anzac Avenue in Yarra Glen, about 8.50am on Thursday 15 October, to find cans of soft-drink littered on the ground.
He said he then noticed the back door swinging on its hinges – and realised there had been a second break-in.
As Lilydale police officers dusted for fingerprints and took photos of the damage to the shed, Mr Hallpike said a safe stolen in the break-in had been purchased before the shed was last broken into, overnight between 30 September and 1 October.
Though the safe made it through the first burglary and was bolted to the floor, thieves stole it during the burglary overnight between Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Acting Sergeant Marc Hodgson said that thieves jemmied the back door of the shed open – the same method of entry as in the first burglary.
Det Act Sgt Hodgson said the safe, which contained money and office documents, was found in the Yarra River in Warrandyte’s Mount Lofty Park, near a canoe launch area.
Though the office documents were recovered, the money inside the safe was gone.
Men’s Shed member Alex Lagerwey said that members were devastated by the robbery, particularly after power tools and the shed’s defibrillator were stolen in the last break-in.
“We’re devastated – absolutely crestfallen,” he said.
The tools and defibrillator stolen from the shed were engraved with “YGDMS” for Yarra Glen and District Men’s Shed.
Det Act Sgt Hodgson asked anyone who saw any suspicious activity, or who has more information on the break-in to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
