Bandits burgle bushfire victim’s home
Bandits burgle bushfire victim’s home
13 November 2009
published by www.news.com.au
Australia– A couple who lost their home in the February 7 Victorian bushfires have suffered another blow when their borrowed mobile home was burgled.
The victims – a 64-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman – lost everything in the February fires and have been living in the mobile home on their Steels Creek property while they rebuild.
Police said an intruder forced open a flywire screen and unlocked the door at the Old Kinglake Road home some time between November 8 and 12.
The stolen items included a Pentax SLR digital camera in a case, water colour paints and brushes, jewellery including an antique Chinese brooch, an early 1800s vintage ring and earrings.
Sergeant Tony Vangorp from Healesville Police described the theft as appalling.
“The couple were fortunate to survive the bushfires and have borrowed the mobile home to rebuild their lives,” he said in a statement.
“It is obvious that the area has been affected by Black Saturday, and it would have been clear to the thief that they would have been preying on victims of the tragedy.”
