By Bridget Brady
A CRANBOURNE couple is counting their losses after their car was stolen in broad daylight on the weekend.
Deborah Smith lost about $3000 worth of work supplies that were inside her car when it was stolen from Cranbourne Centro shopping centre on Sunday afternoon.
Ms Smith said her partner was now unable to get to work without what was their only car.
Ms Smith was in the shopping centre for a short period of time and noticed the car was stolen when she returned to the car park about 1.30pm. She hoped someone witnessed the theft and could provide information to assist police.
“We came back to the car park and it was gone,” Ms Smith said.
“It was the Coles baby end. We’ve always parked there and never had trouble. The way I see it, how can somebody not notice someone breaking into a car. It was very busy there.”
Ms Smith has four children and said she would find it difficult to attend medical appointments and other engagements.
“I’m devastated,” she said.
An analyst from Casey Criminal Investigation Unit said there had been two reported stolen cars at the shopping centre this month, and two cases of theft from motor vehicles.
Police said they would continue to undertake foot patrols in the area, but said theft from motor vehicles was the number one worry for them, and encouraged people to lock their cars even when parked in their driveways.
