By JESSE GRAHAM
A HEALESVILLE optometrist is out thousands of dollars after being burgled for the second time in just over a month, with police asking witnesses to come forward.
Police believe that between noon on Saturday 21 November and 8.30am on Monday 23 November, unknown people forced open a window in an alleyway beside the Spectacle Site on Maroondah Highway in Healesville.
Spectacle Site CEO Brian Tridgell told the Mail in the store on Tuesday morning that Maui Jim and Bill Bass sunglasses with a total retail value of $13,000 were stolen from cabinets in the theft, along with some chains.
He said a security service patrol at 5.05am on Monday 23 November, came back all-clear, so the burglary may have occurred between then and 8.30am, when staff arrived to work.
He said the burglary was the second in just over a month, with a break-in on the weekend of Saturday 17 November, when the front door was jemmied open.
After stepping up security on the doors at the business, Mr Tridgell said more measures would be put in place, including alarm systems, CCTV cameras and bars on the windows.
“I don’t really want to go there – it makes it look like Fort Knox,” he said.
“It’s a pain in the butt – I wish I could catch them.
“I hate thieves – I can’t stand them.”
Mr Tridgell said there had been similar burglaries from his store in Croydon, though in the last of these, the burglar cut themselves entering the building and was identified by DNA in the blood.
Police attended the store on Monday to collect evidence, and Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said the incident was being followed up.
He asked anyone who may have seen suspicious activity around the shop, or who has been approached about buying new, good-quality sunglasses, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
