Looking back on thefts in Australia in 2017, we noticed a few irregularities. Namely, the items being stolen, ranging from a couple of foam swords from the boot of a car to a $20,000 tiny house towed away on a trailer!
There are some thieves out there who will do whatever it takes to get their hands on anything valuable, and others who seem to go to incredibly risky lengths to obtain objects that are seemingly worthless. It just goes to show that you can never really predict another person’s actions. We’ve put together a list of a few of 2017’s more colourful and astounding thefts.
The Tiny House That Went A Long Way
A tiny house prototype was stolen outside of business premises in Canberra, along with its trailer. It was found by police approximately 24 hours later in Hervey Bay, QLD! The thief had driven the house and trailer approximately 14,000kms overnight in a robbery that was clearly organised. But not organised well enough for the thief to realise that a tiny house is still a peculiar thing to see being towed up the highway. Concerned citizens took to social media to report sightings of the tiny house, and it was eventually couriered back to Canberra.
The Careful Dueller
Last September, a wandering thief in Whyalla Stuart smashed the back window of a parked car to get their hands on a set of foam swords. The break-in occurred in the early hours of the morning. The incident was a clear reminder not to leave objects in clear sight in vehicles, no matter how worthless they may seem. A smashed car window is a massive inconvenience and financial burden that you want to avoid!
The Lego Enthusiast
It’s common knowledge that Lego is a highly desirable and pricey toy, not only for children but adults too. It’s no wonder that $8,500 worth of it was stolen from a regional NSW toy shop last May, as reselling prices can skyrocket on eBay. This isn’t the first time a thief has broken into a toy shop in hopes of securing mass amounts of the popular toy, either. In 2014 a break-in resulted in $15,000 worth of Lego being stolen from a Victorian toy shop.
The Sheep Snatchers
Two men were arrested last August in remote North-Western NSW for stealing over 1,000 sheep from properties in the area. The men were at large for quite some time, as they carefully took their pickings from several different farms to try and avoid notice. They also stole firearms, expensive machinery and stock records and documents. It was found that many of the stolen sheep had been on-sold and that the men in question had also been charged with harassing a witness.
Serious Consequences
While viewing these thefts as an outsider can appear amusing and dumbfounding, it’s important to remember that these types of break-ins could happen to anyone. When reporting on the Lego theft, Detective Inspector Wilkinson of NSW Police reminded the public that:
“We’re talking about people’s livelihoods here, the success of this business, whether it continues or fails, could well depend on that sum of money.”
Taking the risk of theft seriously is vital, especially when considering the security of your home and business. No matter how unlikely you believe it is that anyone would want to steal your possessions or stock, it’s always a possibility and could leave you in serious financial hardship.
Are you looking for a home or business security system to protect your property against theft? Contact Rechenberg today to discuss CCTV, alarms and monitoring services.
