A PARTIALLY-restored 1976 VW Beetle was among items stolen from 10 storage units in Barkly St, Mornington, last week.
The car, valued at $15,000, was later recovered undamaged behind a Mornington take away.
Detective Senior Constable Ben Watson, of Somerville CIU, said thieves either cut padlocks or forced open doors to the units overnight Sunday 19 June.
Detective Watson said another a Porsche 911 was left behind in the raids in which a video camera, TV, electric bicycle and tools were taken.
Adjoining unit holder Ryan Henderson said the thieves broke into his unit but unsuccessfully tried to open five others. He said they went through personal documents and tax records.
“The facility has CCTV cameras but they are either dummy cameras or not switched on and they were smashed off by the thieves,” he said.
“I don’t think there is any surveillance.”
He said gates to the storage units could be left open and “people can just walk in”.
“They may have been open all weekend,” he said. “I am very annoyed about it.”
Peter Skewes, of estate agent Jacobs and Lowe, which manages the units, said some CCTV cameras may have been damaged by the thieves. Others, on an adjoining alleyway, had captured footage of the car being removed.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 June 2016
