Slender Thief Targets Welding Equipment in Athens, Steals Nearly $10,000 in Two Weeks.

In the past two weeks, welding equipment has been a target for thieves in Athens. Two incidents have occurred at different businesses selling welding supplies, with nearly $10,000 worth of equipment stolen in total. The first incident took place at Airgas on Commerce Road, where thieves made off with $3,000 worth of welding helmets. This latest case involved the theft of three welding machines and five welding hoods worth about $7,000 from Athens Gas and Welding Supply on Winterville Road.

The thief cut through a fence surrounding the business and damaged a door to gain entry into the facility. Video camera footage captured a single person entering the business and making off with the stolen equipment. The crime took place just before 11 p.m., and the suspect left the scene around 11:20 p.m. The burglar is described as a slender, 6-foot-6 individual wearing a hoodie, a bandana over his face, gloves, and boots.

A police detective investigating the case has reached out to other businesses in the area that sell welding supplies to alert them about the recent burglaries. The targeted businesses have also contacted neighboring counties to warn them about the thefts. It is unclear why the thieves are specifically targeting welding equipment or whether the same individual is responsible for both incidents.

Authorities are investigating these cases and seeking any information from members of the public that may help solve them. Sgt. Brian O’Neill can be contacted at 762-400-7375 or via email at brian.o’neill@accgov.com for any relevant information regarding these thefts.

Despite several security measures in place such as fences and doors being damaged during these incidents, it is vital to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to local authorities for their investigation purposes.

Thefts involving valuable tools such as welding equipment are not only costly but can also cause significant inconvenience to businesses that rely on such tools for their operations.

It is essential to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken in place to prevent such incidents from happening again in future.