Call outs to a burning car are becoming something of a regular occurrence for our CFA crews of late. A 3am pager led the Fish Creek & District fire crew to a burning ute that was “stolen, dumped and torched” just outside the town at the end of last month.
The sight of burnt out cars in the rest area heading north from Foster to Foster North has been a startling new phenomenon for local residents as well. “It’s just not something I’ve ever seen around here before, and I’ve lived here a long long time,” said one local.
Another burnt out car was reported on Fullers Road recently, but unlike the examples on the South Gippsland Highway that were left in situ for what seemed to be an eternity (it was off road so up to the insurers or owners to collect), the Ford Territory was removed within a matter of days.
These incidents come on top of a spate of stolen cars reported in the town, the latest of which was reported on VicPol’s Eyewatch-Bass Coast facebook page last week. Police are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the offenders who stole a 2010 Toyota Landcruiser (Victorian Vehicle registration of ‘1VU1NE’) from Foster, in the early morning of Wednesday July 30.
The car was stolen from Boundary Road Foster, “and was later used in several other crimes, including a burglary of an entertainment premises at Stony Creek, and was later seen in Meeniyan.”
Though many of the Foster stolen cars have been found abandoned and returned to their owners, the Landcruiser was later found ablaze in a timber plantation in Moe South on the afternoon it was stolen.
Sergeant Anthony Wilson of Foster Police reminded property owners, “securing our property a bit better helps.”
“Making sure you’ve locked your vehicle, remove anything in sight, just be more aware”, he continued.
Sgt Wilson went on to say, “We shouldn’t be living in fear, but you know the old saying, be alert, not alarmed and do anything you can to make things harder for what in the most part are opportunists who go for the easiest option.”
Detectives have released several images of the stolen LandCruiser, which was matte black and had multiple accessories fitted to it, in the hope that the local community might be able to provide information regarding the theft and the other crime which was committed.
If you have any information regarding this matter, please contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or at: https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/ Information can be provided anonymously. David Barrett
