Portsmouth businessman turns 'detective' to catch brazen men who took air conditioning units feels ‘unsafe’ after men return to warehouse

A businessman turned into a self-proclaimed detective after investigating brazen men who helped themselves to air conditioning units has said staff feel ‘unsafe’ after the men returned to the warehouse.
By Steve Deeks
Published 11th Aug 2022, 04:55 BST
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Bruce Chau, general manager at Beyond Acoustic at Pioneer Park, off Portfield Road in Portsmouth, was horrified when CCTV showed two men driving into the business park in a white low-loader, and then wandering into his warehouse.

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As reported, the footage from last Wednesday morning August 3 around 8am shows the men helping themselves to two packaged-up Lexent Sprint air conditioning units that sell for £599 each before driving off.

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The low loader that the air conditioning units were driven off in Picture: Beyond AcousticThe low loader that the air conditioning units were driven off in Picture: Beyond Acoustic
The low loader that the air conditioning units were driven off in Picture: Beyond Acoustic

The men were seen again outside the warehouse on Monday morning - not long after The News published a story on the incident.

Mr Chau said that the men were both short-haired and stockily built. Both looked like they were in their 30s. One wore a dark T-shirt and dark trousers, and the other a light-coloured T-shirt and dark shorts.

He has since taken things upon himself to find those responsible and has established two identities that he says have been confirmed by different sources.

But despite going to police with the information, he remains frustrated by the lack of action.

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Two men walked into the warehouse of Beyond Acoustic in Pioneer Park, Portfield Road, Portsmouth and took two portable air conditioning units on the morning of August 3, 2022 Picture: Beyond Acoustic Two men walked into the warehouse of Beyond Acoustic in Pioneer Park, Portfield Road, Portsmouth and took two portable air conditioning units on the morning of August 3, 2022 Picture: Beyond Acoustic
Two men walked into the warehouse of Beyond Acoustic in Pioneer Park, Portfield Road, Portsmouth and took two portable air conditioning units on the morning of August 3, 2022 Picture: Beyond Acoustic

He said: ‘Police said there has been no progress due to staff shortages. I’ve found all the information for them and done their job like a detective but they have done nothing.

‘I’m not sure why they are so slow when they have everything they need.

‘We feel unsafe at the warehouse. On Monday between 10am and 11am the men were seen outside the front of the warehouse in the same van.

‘These men need to be stopped before it happens again.’

The company imports goods from abroad – it started with music and lighting equipment but now deals with many types of products.

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A police spokeswoman said: ‘We are investigating the incident and currently in the process of following a number of lines of enquiry in order to identify and locate those involved.’

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting 44220312388.

Mr Chau added that the sales of air conditioning units have taken off this summer.

He said: ‘Last month, in two days we sold 600 on the Amazon Prime days, plus in just one week we sold more than 1,000.’