An appeal for information has been made by one woodcutter following a break-in at his farm in Co. Wicklow last week in which a number of chainsaws were taken.
Thieves broke into a shed owned by Patrick Doyle in Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, last Wednesday, March 10, taking six valuable chainsaws.
The items taken included: a Husqvarna 572xp; a Husqvarna 562xp; a Husqvarna 550xp Mark II; a Husqvarna 365; and a Stihl MS261.
Speaking to AgriLand about the theft, Patrick said: “They’ve put me out of business to be honest. I do firewood out of the homeplace farm.”
Patrick explained that they drove up the lane in broad daylight, broke two locks on the shed and took all his chainsaws.
I had six chainsaws worth in excess of €6,000. They took them and went out on the road – it’s a busy road and they nearly collided with a car and drove off erratically.
Noting that the Gardaí based in Baltinglass are doing their best, Patrick explained that the chainsaws are all registered and will come up on the system if dealers check before buying such implements from anyone
“They are automatically flagged if a person puts them in the system,” he said.
“The Gardai are making enquiries and doing their best but there is now definitive leads at the moment. They’re all professional chainsaws though, they’re all nearly new.”
Patrick said that the car used in the break-in is believed to have been a black Ford Focus van with either an 04 or 05 registration.
He added that he’s heard of people selling chainsaws in the intervening days and urged people to be discerning about buying.
It puts me out of business; I do firewood part time and it puts me clean out of business. It’s €6,000 – that’s last year’s and this year’s money gone to pay for this. And this is coming into my busiest time for that because I would be preparing for next winter – now I’ve nothing.
“They went in and just moved a battery charger out of the way – they didn’t wreck the place, they did nothing.
“Only that the locks were on the ground when I came up the next morning at half seven you wouldn’t think anyone was in the shed. I had some chainsaws hidden under bags, that’s just the way they were thrown, they had them gone. You wouldn’t even think they’d moved them.
“The terrible thing is that the guards have said to me now they know there’s no one there they could be back. To be honest, it’s made me terrible nervous; I’m not sleeping or anything. I’m not soft but it’s left me awful nervous.
“If anyone saw anything could they please let me know.
If unfortunately it doesn’t do anything for me it might just make people more wary about their security of their property. Because it’s been an eye-opener for me in a lot of ways.
Gardaí have confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the burglary. Anyone with information which may be of assistance can contact Baltinglass Garda Station on: 059-6482610; or Patrick himself on: 087-8111876.