Highway robbery

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Highway robbery

TRACTORS and farm equipment to the value of approximately $100,000 were stolen from Cervus Equipment, Leongatha South last week.

Entering from the South Gippsland Highway, a large truck accessed the property after thieves cut through a wire fence.

After driving up the north boundary, the thieves loaded a new John Deere 5075 M tractor with loader attached, a John Deere 855D SUV Gator, and a 15 inch JBI auger, exiting the same way they came in.

The thieves would have taken some time to leave, as the truck had to cross a drain between the fence and the highway.

The theft occurred overnight between Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28.
Regional manager of Cervus Equipment Travers Scott and Leongatha Police are seeking assistance from the public.

“There must have been passing traffic that saw activity in front of our premises and may have seen this truck with its load leaving our business,” Mr Scott said.

“If anyone saw any movements of trucks anytime that day, then please come forward and ring the Leongatha Police or Crime Stoppers.”

The robbery became known to Cervus Equipment at 6.30am Wednesday when a member of the public rang a staff member after seeing a hole in the fence and tyre marks from the truck.

Leongatha Police attended and took finger prints.

“A bucket we believe was turned over by the thieves has been fingerprinted,” Mr Scott said.

Mr Scott said the tractor and Gator would be hard to resell as John Deere has a record of all serial numbers and has been notified of the theft.

“If this tractor turns up for repair at any John Deere outlet, it will be immediately flagged to John Deere who will know it was stolen,” Mr Scott said.

Ironically, security cameras and equipment purchased and booked for installation before Christmas was installed on Thursday – just one day after the robbery.

“We had wanted to have them in place before Christmas but the local company was very busy and I said it would be all right to delay installation until the New Year,” Mr Scott said.

“And up they came to do the job the day after the robbery, oblivious to the thefts which had occurred.

“We now have 24/7 security camera coverage, as well as voice activation, so it will make it a lot easier to catch the perpetrators next time.”

Fortunately all the equipment is secured and the business is trading as usual.

Postcard: regional manager with Cervus Equipment Travers Scott indicates some of the tyre marks left by the truck.

Postcard: regional manager with Cervus Equipment Travers Scott indicates some of the tyre marks left by the truck.

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Posted by on Feb 3 2015. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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