Cheque thieves thwarted

By Sarah Schwager
A CHEQUE stolen from a Cranbourne home recently was cancelled before it could be altered and cashed.
A cheque for $5000 made out to Narre Warren’s Hope Community Church was stolen from a house in Wallace Road between 9.45am and 1.15pm on 23 April.
Police said someone forced the rear laundry door and stole Target vouchers and wristwatches from a bedroom.
They also stole the cheque.
Pastor Alan Battersby from Hope Community Church said he thought it was strange that someone would steal a cheque that had already been filled in.
He ensured the cheque had been cancelled and was not cashed.
“We wondered whether it was young kids who stole the cheque and didn’t understand how they worked,” Pastor Battersby said.
Police said neighbours saw two boys aged about 16 ringing the front doorbell of the house about 12.15pm.
One was described as 167 centimetres tall, with curly hair with blond tips, wearing jeans, runners and a navy blue windcheater.
The second boy was 162 centimetres, with short dark brown hair, wearing a baseball cap, hooded top and tracksuit pants.
If anyone has a similar cheque handed in to them, they should contact Detective Senior Constable Ollie Gaspari at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661.