By Brendan Rees
A South East tradie says he has no way of knowing how he will put food on the table after he was cleaned out by heartless thieves.
Trent Cole of Clyde North was devastated when he found his Ford Ranger ute and trailer, containing an entire collection of tools allegedly stolen from his home on Monday 13 May.
The intruders also took a “one-of-a-kind” engagement ring worth $8,000, and electronic equipment including a Plasma TV, Google Home hub, a Wifi router, and speaker.
The 30-year-old, who runs a fencing company, was distraught.
“It’s put me in such a hard spot,” he said.
“I don’t care about the items and the tools and that … it’s just the car situation.
“I’m having to walk two-and-half hours to get food.”
He also had to walk to pick up his son from kinder.
“On top of that I spent my last cent on food and hopefully that can get me enough till I don’t know … whenever.
“It’s just really tough going at the moment. I feel non-existent and really alone,” he said.
Mr Cole had left his Precinct Walk home for a short time when the intruders struck sometime between 2pm and 5.30pm.
“My friend took me out for a bit then I got home and thought ‘where’s my car gone?’”
The ute virtually had no fuel in it, he said.
“They’ve jumped in it and somehow got far enough to get to a petrol station.”
He said the spare key was also hidden in a small tin box “which was hidden inside two other boxes.”
“They’ve been able to unclip my garage from the inside internally, roll the door up and away they went.”
The hardest part, he said, was walking into his son’s room which had been ransacked: “That brought me to my knees.”
Mr Cole said he was in the process of moving out of his home on Friday 17 May but was now “forced to squat”.
“I got know where to go because I can’t afford a place. I’m in a real spot of bother.”
“I’ve got nothing to do; can’t even buy food anymore,” he said.
According to Mr Cole, there was no sign of forced entry but he said CCTV from his neighbour had captured his ute and trailer leaving his home.
He was given details of a person of interest from a Beaconsfield address which he had passed onto police after appealing to the public for information on Facebook’s Casey Crime Page.
Narre Warren police have been contacted for comment.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
