Thieves broke into the Parklands Albury Wodonga depot in Lemke Road on Sunday night, brazenly moving a large amount of workshop and outdoor gear from the shed to their waiting vehicle, and away.

With them went twenty years worth of tools donated by community members and local businesses; a collection gradually built to be fit for purpose to Parklands unique community enterprise. With these tools, the organisation could support the work of numerous community groups in the local environment. Our Rangers could take groups of volunteers into the field every week to enhance our bush parks and trails. They could fix, repair, maintain, re-purpose or create just about anything. 

The theft has crippled Parklands volunteer programs and brought park and trail maintenance to a halt this week, as there are no tools available to use for fencing, weeding or routine maintenance tasks.

The stolen tools were also regularly used by the community groups Parklands supports, including the High Country Rail Trail volunteers, the Bhutanese Community Farm and local Friends and Landcare groups.  Their theft potentially affects upcoming winter planting events in the region.

Items stolen from the shed include tool boxes full of hand tools – screwdrivers, pliers, hammers etc., a large toolbox full of power tools including a Dremel engraver and angle grinders, a welder and outdoor equipment including three chainsaws and two brushcutters. Many of these items are engraved with ‘P.A.W’ or ‘Mungab’. The thieves took their time to choose matching battery chargers and safety gear for the tools.

Also stolen were items stored for the Albury Wodonga Mountain Bike Club including flood lights and UHF radios, and personal items including 2 children’s kayaks which will be sorely missed.

Parklands staff are hoping that the community will assist with the recovery of these tools and would appreciate people looking out for them. Pleaase contact us with any information, or call Wodonga Police on 02) 6049 2600