By Brendan Rees
A woman has told of how her car was allegedly pinched within minutes of it being parked at a Cranbourne West service station on Wednesday morning, 11 April.
Jessie McEwan, 27, has taken to social media in an attempt to find her stolen car after a thief brazenly drove off in it while her fiancé, Garrett Chaney was getting a coffee at about 5.30am.
She said Mr Chaney had parked her car outside the shop window, just metres from the front door of BP on the corner of Thompsons Road and Western Port Highway.
“My fiancé is almost certain he took the key out of the car, but he was juggling his wallet and some rubbish, so he can’t be sure.
“He said it all just happened so fast.
“Innocent morning coffee that takes two minutes to car theft,” she said.
Ms McEwan said she asleep at home and was “torn up” when she got the call from Mr Chaney.
“He’s like ‘Hey, don’t panic, but your car’s just been stolen.’”
“I sat there numb for about an hour and then I was just upset.”
She said their wedding planning folder was also in her car, a 2014 black Ford Focus hatchback with number plates 1BD1UD.
She has appealed for the return of her car on Facebook’s Casey Crime Page.
“It throws a spanner in your life. It really, really does.
“It’s just a car but it is a lot of money, still paying the load off for it,” she said, adding the car’s market value was between $11 and $16,000.
Sergeant Roger Childs of Cranbourne Police confirmed the theft had taken place and would look at the CCTV.
“That’s a very expensive coffee. Leaving your car with the keys in it is pretty much a target for anybody,” he said.
“It’s only a very short window of opportunity but someone has taken advantage of it.
“Police want to emphasise to drivers to lock their vehicles at all times when they’re not with it.”
Anyone with knowledge of the car’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
