Lulu’s Cafe proprietor Linda with the replacement 45kg bottle supplied by Origin. Thieves have cut through thick chains stealing several gas bottles in recent weeks. Photo Aslan Shand.
Lulu’s cafe in Mullumbimby is reeling after have three gas bottles stolen from their premises recently.
Two 45kg bottles were stolen on the ANZAC weekend and then a 90KG bottle was stolen this Wednesday 10 May.
‘We’d had the two bottles stolen and I thought that if I replaced it with the 90kg gas bottle, that weighs 250kgs when it’s full, I would foil them,’ said Lulu’s owner Linda Rutledge.
All the bottles were chained in place with large chains and padlocks and Linda is now looking at getting future bottles bolted and welded to the wall.
‘It makes me feel really targeted and vulnerable,’ she continued.
To replace each of the 45kg bottles that were stolen will cost $275 and she doesn’t yet have a price on the cost of replacing the 90kg bottle.
‘Each gas bottle has a serial number and the name of the gas supplier stamped on it,’ said Linda.
‘They are only supposed to be filled by that supplier so they shouldn’t be able to be filled after they have been stolen.’
After the hefty charges for the two 45kg bottles Linda had changed gas suppliers from Supagas to Origin energy after they assured her that if the bottle was stolen she wouldn’t be charged for it. However, they have just informed her that she is liable for the cost of the stolen 90kg bottle.
The Echo contacted Origin and were told by their spokesperson:
‘Origin supplied a new 90kg cylinder as a replacement for two stolen 45kg cylinders provided by our customer’s original supplier. Origin arranged for the new 90kg cylinder to be fixed to the wall of the customer’s business premises and this new cylinder had been filled with gas the day prior to the next theft and would likely have weighed over 250kg.
‘Origin has since been able to secure a temporary supply arrangement to our customer’s business and we will also provide a credit for the cost to replace the stolen 90kg cylinder. We will now work with our customer to explore additional measures that might be employed to secure the cylinder on site.’
If anyone has any information on the stolen gas bottles call Linda on 66842415 or contact the local police.
