By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A WOMAN has been left shattered after her new car was stolen from her house and wrecked following a frightening police chase that ended in Cranbourne this week.
Julia Trofimiuk’s silver Holden Cruze was stolen from under her nose last Wednesday 11 February when she left her Teal Court house unattended for just 10 minutes to chase after her pet staffy cross, Beemer, who had escaped down the street.
It’s part of a string of misfortune for Ms Trofimiuk, who only bought the car two months ago, was forced to change all her house locks and whose father is battling cancer.
“I was really upset, we’ve had a real string of bad luck lately,” Ms Trofimiuk, of Narre Warren South, said.
“I just can’t believe someone would do this.”
Ms Trofimiuk’s car had been missing for five days when police were called to an Endeavour Hills property on Monday 16 February, around 11am, where the car had been sighted.
Upon their arrival a man took off in the stolen car and the police drove after him, but they were forced to call off the pursuit when the offender, reaching speeds up to 140km/h in an 80km/h zone, side-swiped a tree.
The police air wing was also called in to track the driver.
It’s understood the offender pulled over to the side of the road when contacted by officers and then took off again, before police deployed stop strips.
The strips were used on Thompsons Road near Merinda Park Railway Station and managed to puncture two of the car’s tyres, but the man is alleged to have kept driving on just two rims and two wheels.
The offender’s luck ran out when he pulled into a BP service station at the end of Thompsons Road and police swarmed on the car.
The man was interviewed by police this week.
The day the car was stolen Ms Trofimiuk, 28, said she left her keys on the bench before chasing after her dog which had jumped over the fence and run away.
It’s believed the dog was coaxed from the property.
“I heard the fence rattling, and I ran out the back door and saw Beemer running down the street,” Ms Trofimiuk said.
“I ran after him but left the back door unlocked. Some people stopped in their cars and helped me get my dog back – I was only gone for maybe about 10 minutes.
“By the time I got back home my car was gone. I thought my fiance had come home, grabbed the keys and come out to look for us but evidently someone has come into the house through the back door, grabbed the keys off the bench and driven off with my car.”
The car’s wheels and suspension were ruined in Monday’s pursuit and Ms Trofimiuk is unsure whether her and her fiance, Luke, will be able to pay for the repairs.
It’s believed Ms Trofimiuk’s stolen car was also used in a burglary involving two offenders on Friday 13 February at St Peter’s College in Cranbourne.
CCTV footage shows the offenders using a sledge hammer to break through a window at the school and attempting to steal a safe but they were unsuccessful.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
