Thieves carried out a destructive ram-raid on a Carterton machinery store early yesterday morning.
The Masson Implement Company on Belvedere Road had its store frontage smashed by what could only have been a vehicle, pushing a shelf of tyres and another of paint aside giving the thieves access to several chainsaws,
of which five were taken.
Manager Stuart Dornan said the raid happened at 4am, and he was waiting for a police scene investigation to be carried out yesterday before he could determine what else, if anything, had been taken.
"We're unsure of what the losses are yet, but we know some of the major items, like chainsaws."
He said the chainsaws were locked up in a cage, which proved to not be enough of a security measure.
"They were locked up in a cage, and that prevents shoplifting, and we thought we had them reasonably secure. I guess we'll have to do better."
The cage had been tilted up and the chainsaws on the ground removed.
The area through which the vehicle had gained entry used to be a set of doors, "many years ago", but had been firmly nailed shut for a long time, and had a rack of tyres up against it.
Mr Dornan was certain some kind of car was used to break them open.
"You'd never smash doors like that down with two to three people. It was a very deliberate act, they knew what they were after.
"I'm just so bloody annoyed about it."
