General News
21 October, 2025
Thieves target men’s shed
MAREEBA Police are investigating the theft of a number of battery-powered electrical tools following a break-in at Mareeba Men’s Shed premises.
Mareeba Men’s Shed president John Hartwell told The Express that all was in order when Men’s Shed volunteers left the premises to work at Savannah in the Round at around 6am on 10 October.
“Like a whole host of other local groups and volunteers at the massive Savannah in the Round, we were all kept extremely busy over the entire weekend,” Mr Hartwell said.
“It wasn’t until we attended the premises at around eight on the Monday morning that we found that the rear door and lock apparatus on our workshop had been smashed.
“Further investigation led to the discovery of makeshift bedding that obviously had been used during the time of our absence.”
Mr Hartwell said that whoever had set the bedding up had also placed old rags to act as makeshift curtains during their occupancy.
Some rubbish and drug use equipment were also located.
“It was when we entered the workshop proper that we discovered that a whole selection of the Men’s Shed Ryobi 20-piece Mega Combo kit plus an 18-gauge nailing gun had been removed,” Mr Hartwell said.
“The only Mega Pack Combo kit equipment left was a drill, that had been obscured behind a cardboard box on the equipment shelves, and a blower attachment. The rest was gone.
“Whoever the offender or offenders were, it was apparent that they spent some time making the Men’s Shed workshop their temporary home over that weekend.
“I cannot emphasise enough the massive impact this has made on our members who regularly use our workshop and those tools every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It is also extremely disappointing that here we were, playing an active volunteer role in a huge weekend event that has many and widespread benefits right across the community over a particularly busy weekend, only to become yet another local victim of crime.
“Hopefully police can track down the felon or felons and they can be brought to justice promptly.”
Mr Hartwell said the theft was a setback for the group at a time when they were trying to attract more members.
“Currently we are on a membership drive and given the productive community role the Mareeba Men’s Shed has played in supporting local groups and charities for well over a decade, we are determined to further our successful and beneficial projects and services, but this theft certainly is a significant setback,” he said.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Mareeba Police said an investigation was continuing.
