Brazen bike theft

Angie Serwecinska and her one-year-old son Walter are calling on the community to keep a look out for their stolen motorbike. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

THE theft of a family’s prized motorbike last week has neighbours in a Narre Warren South street looking over their shoulders.
The bike, bought for Angie Serwecinska’s one-year-old son Walter before he was born, was allegedly stolen from the family’s Exeter Place garage while she and her husband Sebastian were inside the home.
Ms Serwecinska said the thief must have known where the bike was stored in the garage, because it wasn’t visible from the street.
“You feel a bit violated that someone’s brazen enough to come down your drive way and walk past your living room, it’s not a nice feeling, it’s actually quite scary,” she said.
“Sometimes, I’m home alone with two kids.”
While police have determined that the bike was stolen between Sunday 23 and Tuesday 25 March, they have not specified whether they believe the robbery was planned or opportunistic in nature.
Ms Serwecinska said Sebastian used to take Walter for a ride on the bike every night before dinner, and that it was proving almost impossible to find a replacement for the 1989 Honda Z50R.
“Walter’s shattered. He’s not quite two yet, so he doesn’t quite understand,” she said.
“When he asks to go for a ride and we say ‘no you can’t because your bike’s gone,’ it’s very difficult.”
Reports also circulated this week that a house and car in nearby Falmouth Road were broken into over the weekend.
Neighbour Rachel Sheridan labelled the theft “disgusting” and warned the community to remain vigilant.
“It’s very scary because we have a lot of kids in our street, it makes me feel very unsafe,” Ms Sheridan said.
“Kids ride their bikes all the time in our street. I’m hiding all our property to make sure they (thieves) don’t take stuff from our house.”
Ms Serwecinska is encouraging anyone who has seen the bike, or who may have information on its whereabouts, to contact the Narre Warren police station on 9705 3111.