Invaded and angry

SOUTH Gippsland residents have been left frustrated and bewildered after a 14-year-old Leongatha youth was let out on bail last week following allegations he was involved in an aggravated burglary only to go on and commit a similar offence two days later.

It has been alleged that he was one of two teenagers who entered the property of a 78-year-old Vietnam Veteran in McCartin Street Leongatha last Wednesday, August 7, stealing keys and a Hyundai Sonata car, but on release committed a similar aggravated burglary at Cape Paterson on Friday.

The resident of the first aggravated burglary Edwin Baker has been left shaken, and unable to sleep or eat.

“I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I’m stressed, and shaking,” Mr Baker said this week.

“Everyone has been telling me it’s over, to calm down, but I can’t.”

Mr Baker’s sense of personal safety has been completely shattered.

“I remember seeing young kids out the front on Tuesday evening when I returned home in my new Hyundai Sonata. I drove in and locked the car up in the garage.

“A short time later, I thought my neighbour must have been putting his bins out as I heard some noises. I went to investigate (after a few minutes) with a torch, but the garage was shut, and nothing was out of place.”

Heading to bed later, Mr Baker’s seven-month-old dog started barking, but he told her to settle down.

“There’s nothing there, we’ve already checked,” I told her.

She went and sat by the window, and it was silent again.

The following morning Mr Baker couldn’t find his keys, searching high and low. It was only when he decided to pop the washing machine on that he noticed the dog door was ajar.

He immediately got a second set of keys and went to the garage only to discover his brand-new car had been stolen along with two jerry cans of fuel.

“I nearly died,” Mr Baker said.

“I phoned the police and fortunately I tracked the car through the Bluelink (security system). The Police Air Wing located the car on Hallston Road in Hallston, and police apprehended the two offenders.

“They didn’t damage the car, fortunately, but it was covered in mud, bogged, had no fuel and a flat battery.”

Mr Baker’s number plates were later located on a different vehicle.

Working hard his whole life, Mr Baker was proud of his new car but not now. He says he wishes he never went to the expense of getting a new one.

And Mr Baker isn’t the only one left shaken by the ordeal with his faithful puppy now barking at every sound.

According to police media, both teenagers were arrested at the scene without incident.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with a number of offences relating to the incident including theft of a motor vehicle, theft, criminal damage, handle stolen goods and obtain property by deception.

He was bailed to appear at children’s court at a later date.

A second 14-year-old was released pending further enquiries.

On Sunday, Bass Coast police also reported a vehicle had been stolen from Cape Paterson in another aggravated burglary.

“Foster and Mirboo North police officers have arrested a boy following an alleged aggravated burglary and theft of a car in Cape Paterson.

“It is alleged the boy entered a property on Sunlight Boulevard between 11.30pm on Friday, August 9 and 6.45am on Saturday, August 10.

“The boy allegedly fled the scene in the victim’s Mercedes Benz while the occupants were asleep.

“Police located the stolen Mercedes Benz parked at the rear of a property in Leongatha on August 10.”

Officers arrested a 14-year-old at the property at about 8am the same day, charging him with aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle, handle stolen goods and going equipped to steal. He has been remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.

Police those involved with latest aggravated burglaries may be linked to group of young offenders who have stolen a number of vehicles and other goods in recent weeks across South Gippsland and Bass Coast.

Anyone with information relating to any of the above crimes can contact Bass Coast Crime Investigation Unit on 5671 4100 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

They have warned the community to ensure your homes, cars and possessions are locked up, and keys are hidden away.