'Money talks': Island contractor offers reward for 2nd recent theft

RobertDuffy is hopinghisFacebook friends and an offer of cashwill help him recover the power tools stolen from his Charlottetown job site earlier this week.

Thepresident and owner of Duffy Construction in Kinkora, P.E.I.,said thatsometime between the hours of 11 p.m. on May 31and 4 a.m. on June 1,thieves brokeinto his storage van in Winsloe and made off with an estimated$15,000 to $20,000 worth of power tools.

• Friend request: Facebook post leads to recovery of stolen copper

This is the second time in just 10 days that Duffyhas taken to social media looking for tipsabout who is responsible for a theft at his construction site, which stretches over 5 kmon the Campbell and Lower Malpeque Roads. He's willing to pay $2,500 to the tipper who can lead him to the lost equipment.

Just a few days earlier, Duffy Construction posted onitsFacebookpage about a theft of $10,00 to $12,000 worth of copper water line material. Duffy was later able to recover some of the copper and split a $2,500 cash reward between two tippers.

'No chump change'

When asked about the most recentFacebook post, Duffy said $2,500 is "no chump change," but that if paying someone for information about the break-in will get his tools back, he'll do it.

"You know, sometimes money talks," Duffy said.

"The money's one thing. But to get back your tools and get back your processions so you can carry on with your project, that's the big thing to me."

'People making a living by stealing'

The fact this is the second time in 10 days thieves havetargeted his company is all the more frustrating for Duffy.

He said the latest theft was a major inconvenienceto his crew working on the Miltonvale WatermainProject because when they got to work there were no tools for them to work with.

There's this saying about our gentle Island, but I'm beginning to wonder if it is a gentle Island."- Robert Duffy

Duffy said the theft is leaving him questioning the province's reputation as a safe place to do business.

"There's this saying about our gentle Island, but I'm beginning to wonder if it is a gentle Island," he said. We have people they're making aliving by stealing and it seems to be going well for them."

At this point, Duffy said he has yet toreceiveany substantial leads on this week's theft.

A spokesperson for the Charlottetown Police said it is continuing to investigate both thefts, and considers both investigations to be very active.

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