By Brendan Rees
A woman has told of her relief when her identity cards were handed in to police after thieves allegedly broke into her car and stole her wallet in Cranbourne East.
Lauren Aldred said her wallet containing $70 cash and personal cards was taken from the centre console of her Jeep Cherokee when it was parked in her driveway in the Mayfield Estate sometime between 2pm on Tuesday 7 November and Wednesday morning of 8 November.
“It’s not something you would expect to happen ever. It’s my property.”
“I don’t usually leave my wallet in there so I didn’t realise at the time. I mustn’t have locked my car,” she said.
“I didn’t click until later in the (Wednesday) afternoon when my partner asked me what money I had in my wallet, like cash and then it hit me.”
After appealing for help on Facebook’s Casey Crime Page, her ID cards were handed to Cranbourne Police after being located at Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel in Cranbourne – two days after the theft.
“I’m at least glad that I got some of my ID back. That’s one less stress.”
“No wallet with the cards, but my driver’s licence and other important cards are there. No bank cards either, however they are cancelled anyway,” she said.
“For everyone times are tough so it was great not to have to worry about money being taken out of my account.”
“The most worrying part was that someone was going to take my ID and order all these things (such as) mobile phone plans and me being the one obviously getting pinned for it.”
Ms Aldred, who wished not to reveal the street in which her car was parked at the time of the theft, said it happened near Lineham Drive, adding she felt “violated.”
“There’s always that factor that it could happen again, maybe they are going to target my car regardless if it’s unlocked next time they try and break into my car.”
Victoria Police have advised people not to leave valuables or gifts “any longer than absolutely necessary” in their cars as Christmas approaches.
“Thefts from motor vehicles are disappointingly quite common and while there is no good time to be a victim of theft, the holiday period is a particularly painful one,” police say.
Police also discouraged people leaving presents in their cars and returning to the shops.
General tips to avoid theft from cars:
* Secure your car;
* Park in a locked garage if possible;
* Park off the street in your driveway if you don’t have a garage, and
* Park in a well-lit area – thieves do not want to be caught breaking into cars, so increase the risk that others will detect them.
