Last Saturday a local lady, who lives in the heart of Airlie Beach, woke up in the early hours of the morning to go to work and realised her Holden Commodore had been stolen overnight.
Believing, like many locals, that she lived in a safe neighbourhood with relatively low crime rates, Jeannine Cadwallader was shocked to see this type of crime take place on her doorstep.
“I got home with my groceries the night before and left the key in the ignition because I had planned to go back and move it into my car space – but I had forgotten” she said.
“When I woke up in the morning, I looked out my window and, when I saw it wasn’t there, I thought I must have parked it out the back - when it wasn’t there either I was really shocked.”
Deciding to head to work so she could be there on-time, Ms Cadwallader called the police station from her office and, later that afternoon around 3pm, she was informed that the police had found her car, burnt out at Kinchant Dam.
“The police told me that this sort of crime happens more than you know and that it was likely someone who was familiar with the [Kinchant Dam] area because they knew where to go to do burn-outs.”
Queensland Crime Statistics show that the Whitsunday region has recently had the highest level of car theft in 20 years, with 35 vehicles stolen in 2020 and 32 last year.
“I was really surprised and so were my neighbours,” said Ms Cadwallader.
“I probably wouldn’t have worried whether my doors were locked previously but I have done all this week – there are other people I know who sometimes leave their keys in their car and they’ve all said they will never do it again.”
Fortunately, Ms Cadwallader had only recently ordered a new car which is arriving this week, but she said that if this incident had happened a year ago the impacts would have been a lot greater.
In addition, she did not have insurance, so she had to pay for the tow-truck to remove the burnt-out vehicle.
“The tow truck guy was really apologetic, but I said to him that it was ok, his fees were cheaper than a year’s insurance anyway!”
Ms Cadwallader’s burnt out car
The melted tyres of the Holden Commodore
Police investigate the crime
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
