By Brendan Rees
A Berwick family have been left shaken after their garage and two cars were raided in the early hours of Wednesday morning 26 August.
Kelli, who did not wish to use her surname, said thousands of dollars worth of items had been stolen including power tools at her Lawton Grove garage after intruders broke-in.
She said her daughter made the discovery as she was about leave for work about 7.30am after finding her Suzuki Swift had been rummaged through with two pairs of sunglasses, a jacket, toiletry bag and a garage remote control stolen.
She said there appeared to be no signs of force entry to their garage, which adjoins their home, with police telling her that intruders may have used a screwdriver.
“I was annoyed at myself because I thought I may have heard them … but just passed off thinking that you know no way somebody would be in the house,” she said.
She added she wasn’t sure if the intruders had gained access to their home but added nothing appeared to have been stolen.
And it wasn’t until three days later when Kelli went to the supermarket that she realised her garage remote control had also stolen from her car.
Kelli said her daughter was also devastated as her usually “completely spotless” car had been ransacked. “When she opened her car and saw stuff was on her front seat from her glove box she knew straight away.”
Kelli has since upgraded her home security and appealed on social media in the hope to alert anyone who discovers her stolen Ryobi powers tools being sold online, some of which were still in unopened packaging.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.
A Victoria Police spokesperson did not reveal any further details other than investigators had been told tools and sunglasses were stolen.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
