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Report from Murdoch Police Station 22 July 2010
It was a bleak, miserable Sunday afternoon when two officers found themselves braving the winter chills to trudge through soft sand, scrub and rusting debris on an industrial site on the look-out to recover an abandoned 4WD vehicle.
And there it was - hidden from public view, covered under a tree at the back of the block. The vehicle with a market value of ~$35k had been found - keys still in the ignition. Unbeknown at the time to the investigating officers, this stolen motor vehicle had been used in a series of criminal offences that day.
An initial inspection of the vehicle’s interior revealed few leads and photographs were taken in situ. Immediate clues of the driver’s seat being far forward pointed to the possibility that the driver was very small. The vehicle was towed away and impounded for forensic testing. In this case, the 4WD had been stolen that morning. Burglars forced a side window of the occupied place, grabbed the car keys in the kitchen and drove off.
Within the space of an hour, the vehicle was sighted and reported to police. Witnesses alleged the vehicle was driven dangerously and at high speed nearly hitting a pedestrian. An hour later, the vehicle was reported again at a location where the offender had broken into another vehicle to steal a packet of cigarettes. The offenders were disguised wearing hard hats and fluro work clothing that had been in the stolen vehicle.
Murdoch Police Station alone took seven stolen vehicle reports that week. Some of these stolen vehicle reports were linked to burglaries where householders failed to secure their homes which have enabled offenders to grab keys and steal a car.
This is just another timely reminder for all home owners to lock up and make it tough for burglars to gain access to your property. Secure your car keys when at home - don’t leave keys lying around on tables, desks or key hooks. If a thief can see your unattended key it is likely that he or she can get hold of it.
The Murdoch Police Station is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 4.00pm but our officers patrol this area 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Please remember that if you need police assistance contact 131 444, or if you have information regarding any criminal activity contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 where your identity can remain confidential. Save 000 for life threatening emergencies only.
Regards,
Sergeant Gerard O’Meara, Murdoch Police Station