POLICE are hopeful CCTV footage may help to identify a person who attempted to break into Bathurst State Emergency Service’s (SES) premises early Monday morning.
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At 1.30am, the SES’s Lloyds Road premises was the scene of an attempted break in, but the intruder was foiled by monitored CCTV installed around the site.
This is the third time in two years Bathurst’s SES premises has been targeted by thieves.
Bathurst SES acting local controller Jessie Davidson said any theft can be a direct threat to the community.
“It could have an impact on people we help,” she said. “We were really thankful nothing was stolen, especially since this morning (Tuesday) we had another call out to a road crash.”
Chifley Local Area Command duty officer Mark Wall said the intruder fled the premises before police arrived.
“Police attended and couldn’t locate anyone and police investigations are continuing,” he said.
SES Central West region business manager Kerrie Pearce said seven SES units have been targeted by thieves in the last two years with more than $40,000 of vital equipment stolen.
Among the items stolen are chainsaws, generators, televisions, computers and torches.
“Televisions and computers affect the operational side of things,” Ms Davidson said.
Ms Pearce said SES volunteers give up their time to assist the community in storms, floods, road crash and vertical rescue and community engagement.
She said any equipment stolen affects their ability to be able to respond in an emergency.
“It’s just reducing our capacity and that’s heartbreaking for the volunteers,” she said.
“It doesn’t seem a lot, but if a tree comes down on your house it’s a lot.
“The community could have suffered ... you get taken offline because you can’t respond.”
If anyone has information on Monday morning’s attempted break-in please call Bathurst police on 6332 8699.
