<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An alleged tool thief has been charged after police raided a home and uncovered more than 200 pieces of stolen equipment worth about $100,000 in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A tradie called police on June 14 and told them his tools had been stolen from the back of his work ute in Blackburn.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tradie said his tools then surfaced on an online marketplace not long after they were taken.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/carolina-wilga-search-for-backpacker-missing-from-outback-wa-expands-across-australia/91d37c37-34cd-4f4a-9c22-a16cf6ebfa4e" target="_blank"><strong><span>The call from missing backpacker's mum that raised the alarm</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police searched a property in Doncaster on July 4, where they discovered two locked rooms full of tools including laser equipment, drop saws and a large volume of handheld power tools.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officers said the alleged tool thief was not home at the time of the raid but he was later arrested on July 8.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 29-year-old man has been charged with handling stolen goods and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/alleged-tool-thief-charged-after-police-uncover-more-than-200-stolen-tools-worth-100-000/e4788744-fa4a-4a9c-abb6-8c568d2ecb9b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police will allege the man stole the tools over the past six months across Melbourne's eastern suburbs including Nunawading, Blackburn, Doncaster, Box Hill and Burwood.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kevin-rudd-details-emerge-around-rudd-and-trumps-secret-meeting/73e14c48-a47c-4d34-9e78-304122c56dc3"><strong><span>Details emerge around Rudd and Trump's 'secret' meeting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria Police said tool theft was surging across the state, with 19,228 offences recorded in the 12 months to March this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most of the tools were stolen from the back of work vans and utes, with offenders targeting unlocked vehicles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Tool theft is on the rise across the state, with opportunistic thieves scoping out unlocked vehicles and job sites," Constable Jake Keenan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is unfortunately an increasingly common crime presently, with a tool theft occurring every two hours in Victoria.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Having your tools stolen often delivers a major financial hit to tradies, with expensive equipment needing to be replaced and upcoming jobs cancelled."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>