By Brendan Rees
A Hampton Park tradie has been left devastated after gutless thieves allegedly stole a drop-saw worth $3,000 from his ute – less than hour of it being purchased.
Carpenter Steven Archer said he had just bought the drop-saw from Sydney Tools in Pakenham which he packed in the back of his ute about 5.30pm on Sunday 30 June.
While driving home he parked at the front of Yo My Goodness on Clyde Road in Berwick with the drop-saw hidden between two big tool boxes.
“I backed up to a bush so no one could really see anything,” he said.
“It was right up at the front of the door so I thought ‘this should be fine’.”
After about five minutes in the restaurant, he realised he had forgotten his mobile phone and went back out.
While at his car, he checked to see the drop-saw was still secure.
However, when he walked out of the restaurant about 15 minutes later at 6pm, it was gone.
“I was thinking someone actually watched load it up at the tool shop and then followed me to where I was going,” he said.
“If it was a cheap and nasty one I wouldn’t have been too phased … It’s pretty much the best drop saw you can get.
“As soon as I noticed it was missing I had quick look around,” he said.
Mr Archer said he immediately checked with staff for any CCTV footage.
“They reviewed it and they said the camera couldn’t see my car,” he said.
Mr Archer said he was shocked by the brazen theft: “All you could see was the handle of the cream coloured trolley so you couldn’t see the drop saw itself.”
The drop-saw is a Festool Kapex 120 model.
Mr Archer has also taken to Facebook’s Casey Crime Page appealing for information.
Anyone with information is urged to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
