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THE owner of Border Bandag is offering a $1000 reward in a bid to catch the thieves who have broken into his business seven times this year.
Graeme Edgar’s South Albury tyre business was targeted again on Wednesday night or early yesterday morning when thieves smashed the front entry door with a brick.
They could not gain entry but Mr Edgar decided to post the reward for information to lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Mr Edgar, who donated about $30,000 to Border charities and groups in the past year, said the repeated break-ins were putting the likelihood of further donations at risk.
“They’re going to miss out,” he said.
“I just haven’t got the money to throw at them because I’m fixing things all the time.
“I’ve spent $6000 to $7000 fixing damage this year and I’m about to put in security cameras which will cost me another $2000.
“At the end of the day it’s the groups that receive donations which will miss out, which is a real shame.”
Mr Edgar said he was happy to give back to the community that supported his business, but eventually had to “plug the leaks”.
He also owns Tower Tyre Service in Wodonga, which has been targeted by thieves twice this year.
Mr Edgar said he estimated both his businesses had been broken into a total of 15 times in the past two years.
“About two years ago they took 60 tyres,” he said.
“That cost us about $18,500.
“Mostly it’s just malicious damage, trashing the office.
“We’ve got a break and enter epidemic now.
“It affects your morale when you keep getting knocked off and it affects your family life.”
Mr Edgar, who posted the reward on Facebook yesterday, hopes a friend of the offenders will dob them in for the $1000 cash.
Anyone with information can phone Albury Police on (02) 6023 9271 or Border Bandag on (02) 6021 1511.