Australian 4x4's fourth theft ‘devastating’

Mrs Deuchar and husband Will operate Australian 4x4 Dismantlers, which was targeted by thieves for the fourth time in the past six weeks on Tuesday night.

Fighting back tears, she said the thieves had taken about $6000 in goods in Tuesday’s theft and about $20,000 overall.

“I don’t know how to describe it ... it’s just devastating,” Mrs Deuchar said.

“It’s out of hand.

“It makes you not want to be in business.

“I’m not sleeping and the cost on our business is enormous.

“The impact personally that it has for people ... it’s just we work really hard to have what we’ve got and it’s just not fair.”

The thieves spent up to four hours at a time at the business during the robberies and appear to have been targeting specific items.

EDITORIAL: Time to catch these thieves

They also have an intimate knowledge of the premises and may work in the industry, using tools to remove the parts.

“We don’t know if they’re in the industry, but they’re certainly four-wheel-drive people,” Mrs Deuchar said.

“They’re targeting driving lights, winches, snorkels, guards and they took a turbo out of a ute.

“I want these people caught. I want them charged and the book thrown at them.”

The thieves cut through three fences to gain access to the premises.

The business has security cameras, but they don’t work well at night.

Mrs Deuchar believes one offender may drive an early 1990s Holden Jackaroo and another a mid-1990s Toyota Hilux, as parts from those vehicles have been targeted.

“It’s gotten to the point where the cost of what they’re stealing is having an impact on our business,” she said.

“We’ll go broke if they keep taking at the rate they’re taking now.”

Meanwhile, Wodonga police continue to investigate car rebirthing after seizing a Holden Commodore on Tuesday.

Detective Acting Sgt Ian Deverell said police were looking into possible links between the Commodore and rebirthing activity in Sydney.