Second welding supplies company hit by burglary in Athens

Thieves have targeted another company selling welding equipment in Athens.

A burglary discovered on April 30 at Athens Gas and Welding Supply on Winterville Road is the second in two weeks in which welding equipment was stolen, according to Athens-Clarke police reports.

Earlier, thieves broke into Airgas on Commerce Road in Athens, where employees reported taking about $3,000 worth of welding helmets.

In this recent case, where nearly $7,000 worth of equipment is missing, police said a fence surrounding the business was cut and a door was damaged, allowing the burglar to enter the property.

Video camera footage shows one person entered the business, but stole numerous items, including three welding machines and five welding hoods.

The crime took place shortly before 11 p.m. The thief left the location shortly after 11:20 p.m., according to the report.

The burglar was described as being about 6 feet tall and of slim build. He wore a hoodie and a bandana over his face, along with gloves and boots.

Thefts during welding: Burglars targeted welding helmets at the Airgas store in Athens

An Athens-Clarke police detective assigned to the case went to a third Athens business that sold welding supplies and alerted them to the other burglaries, police spokesman Geoff Gilland said.

The detective also discovered that both businesses that were burglarized also contacted other businesses in surrounding counties to alert them to the thefts, Gilland said.

Police do not know why the welding equipment, mainly helmets, are being stolen, or whether the same person is responsible.

“We cannot say that the cases are related, but we are investigating whether this is the case,” Gilland said.

Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Brian O’Neill at 762-400-7375 or brian.o’[email protected].

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