Staff and volunteers devastated after thief breaks into plant nursery shed and steals goods worth $4,000

Staff and volunteers at a non-for-profit plant nursery have been left shocked and disappointed after a thief broke into their workshop and made off with tools worth almost $4000. The team at the Leschenault Community Nursery were shocked to find many of their power tools missing at the start of last week, discovering a thief had broken into their property on the previous Friday night, September 6, about 11.20pm. LCN manager Jacquie Rusha said the person cut through the barbed-wire fence and climbed over before breaking into the workshop. She said it was likely the person had prior knowledge of the nursery’s layout, turning the only two cameras facing the workshop away before breaking the lock and taking the tools. The nursery is missing a chainsaw, compressor, drill and several batteries — together worth up to around $4000. Ms Rusha said the incident had impacted the group much more than just financially. “We’re a community organisation, here for the community, and to be targeted in that kind of way, it’s disappointing,” she said. “On the emotional side of it, it feels like a violation when we’re here to help the community and support people in every way we possibly can. “We only have a handful of staff to run this whole place with our volunteers, and a huge amount of our time this week has been taken up with this when we just don’t have the time.” Nursery handyman James Bawden said the theft was shocking, leaving him unable to do much of his work. “All the tools I used daily are just gone,” he said “If I can’t fix stuff, then I’m not being useful here. I can’t fix the loose fence, some of the loose panels on the shed, or do the general maintenance I normally do around here.” Mr Bawden was upset to lose an angle grinder of his own he had stored at the shed. “That was my own personal tool, and now it’s just gone,” he said. The thief used Mr Bawden’s work trolley to ferry the items to the fence before making their getaway. Since the incident, Ms Rusha said the community had shown their support, and she encouraged anyone with information to get in touch with Bunbury Police. She said donations of any unused, spare power tools would also be welcomed.