A SMALL business owner has had tens-of-thousands of dollars in tools stolen during a break-in at his rural home.
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In a further blow, a utility stolen from the home and used to load up the goods was torched after the theft.
Michael and Kaylene Bartel were asleep when their home on the Kiewa Valley Highway was targeted Thursday morning.
The thieves entered a shed at the rear of the Kiewa property.
Mr Bartel’s Toyota HiLux was filled with items including Ryobi combination tools, chainsaws, and a large Karcher pressure washer.
Other items, including a Sidchrome socket set were taken, with Mr Bartel estimating $30,000 to $40,000 worth of tools were stolen.
“I’m a bit disappointed, a bit gutted that they could just walk in and take what they want and walk out,” he said.
“I’ve got school buses and I use the tools for doing maintenance and repairs, so I’ve got to get more to cover the loss.
“There’s a lot of stuff we’ve gotten over the years and it’s hard to replace.”
Mr Bartel believes the thieves knew what they were doing and knew what they were targeting.
Those responsible appeared to have previously attended the home and became familiar with the family dog, who didn't bark during the theft.
“I didn’t hear anything, not a thing,” he said.
“We built here in 1982 and this is the first time something like this has happened in the area.”
Detective Leading Senior Constable Andrew Leonard said it was unusual for the area to be targeted.
The utility was found alight on Gullifer Lane at Bonegilla about 5.30am on Thursday.
“Detectives and crime scene experts attended the scene of the burglary and located a number of exhibits that were taken away for forensic examination,” he said.
“It’s a close-knit community – there’s a strong chance someone may have noticed something amiss and we ask they pass information on to the police.”
Mr Bartel operates school busses in Kiewa and Wodonga.
He used the torched utility for his business and said he would have to make alternate arrangements.
The vehicle and stolen items were insured.
"We're looking to increase security,” Mr Bartel said.
Anyone with information should contact police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.