Find the guy who stole our truck – garden shop appeals to public

Allan’s Garden Centre truck, seen pouring smoke as a robber drove it towards the NW Coast in the early hours of a Thursday morning, has been recaptured – but not the thief. Photo supplied

by Sharon Webb

ALLAN’S GARDEN Centre in Prospect Vale has retrieved a truck stolen from its premises in September, but the thief is still on the run.

After the second time in a fortnight that Allan’s was robbed, the business has appealed to anyone who ‘saw the truck or any strange things happening in or around that area’ to contact Launceston or Longford police.

The truck, described on Allan’s Facebook page as ‘our old truck, a white Mazda T3500 which is very unique with Allan’s Garden Centre Prospect written all over it’, was stolen on September 16 at around 3am.

The thief also helped himself to AEG power tools, a Rover mulcher, a Honda 30EUis generator, a Stihl Professional brush cutter and assorted other power tools and hand tools.

Allan’s said the truck had been seen ‘steaming smoke’ along the highway, heading towards the NW Coast in the early hours of the morning.

At the time it was full of bulk potting mix, some of which was spilt leaving Allan’s gate, then more was spilt up the road at the entrance to Tyler Village and again on the Prospect roundabout slip lane.

According to Allan’s, the truck was found at the back of the power substation near the 90 degree bend in Pateena Road, near the start of the ‘flying mile’ leading to Longford.

The bandit was caught on CCTV, memorably described by Allan’s as ‘21–27 with long blondish wavy hair, a big nose and a smoker as he dropped a new cigarette he had behind his ear and must be strong to lift the heavy generator onto the truck by himself’

Allan’s manager Mark said the truck’s retrieval paid testament to the power of social media, with 3000 hits about the theft on the company’s facebook site in less than a day.

‘We are a small Tasmanian owned business that relies on a good honest customer base. Someone knows this man’, he said.

Allan’s was burgled the first time on August 31. The thief filched expensive plants and ornaments.