Looters strike

By Lia Bichel
AN ELDERLY woman forced out of her house after the floods said she was shocked to return on the weekend and find her unoccupied home ransacked and burgled.
Hennie Korte, 85, said she was “shaken up” and wanted to send other residents a warning about thieves after sentimental items were stolen from her Berwick home.
She had been living with her daughter in Donvale after the February floods destroyed much of her house.
All her savable items were stored in the bungalow and the garage.
She returned on Saturday to meet local Lions Club members who offered to help her in the recovery process, only to find the front door of her house open, her garage and bungalow ransacked and possessions gone.
Ms Korte said a jewellery box containing custom-made jewellery was tipped upside down but nothing was taken. Stainless steel garden tools were missing as well as an antique sewing machine given to her by her father 60 years ago before she moved from Holland to Australia.
Ms Korte, who had lived in her Berwick home for 41 years, said she was still recovering from the emotional impact of the flood and now had to deal with a callous theft.
“It was horrible to see, I feel very upset about it,” she said.
“Now I have no house, no car, lost many photos and sentimental items. It’s awful.”
Ms Korte said she believed whoever stole the items wanted to sell them for a profit.
Detective Senior Constable Stephen Boyle confirmed items were reported stolen and said the burglary could have occurred anytime over a seven-day period.
He said this was the first instance of looting after the Casey floods that he was aware of and believed it was an opportunistic crime.
“I think it was a bit of pot luck, someone realised that there was no-one home and forced entry to the house and stole some items,” Det Sen Con Boyle said.
He said anyone who was not living or staying at their homes might want to contact the Crime Prevention Unit at the Dandenong Police Station to learn ways to make their house look occupied in an attempt to prevent such crimes.
Anyone with information about this incident or any other crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Det Sen Con Boyne at the Narre Warren Police Station on 9705 3111.