NEW CRIME LOW
SHOCKED elderly residents at a Geelong retirement village have had their mobility scooters stolen and trashed, leaving some users confined to their units.
SHOCKED elderly residents at a Geelong retirement village have had their mobility scooters stolen and trashed, leaving some users confined to their units.
William Barber, who lives at Townsend Gardens in St Albans Park, said the theft had moved him to speak up for his fellow residents after four scooters were stolen last week.
He said the “low lifes” drove the scooters to a local park and had a “demolition derby”, leaving the powered chairs as piles of rubble.
Mr Barber is calling on anyone who knows those responsible for the low act to contact police and help protect the community’s elderly population.
“Most of the people have been here a couple of years and these low lifes have driven their scooters into the ground. I don’t believe they were repairable,” Mr Barber said.
“One of them looked like a small Mini Minor, it would’ve cost a pretty penny.
“Our governments lack the internal fortitude with all this so-called political correctness to bite the bullet and bring law and order back to this country.
“I feel for the police who try to keep the peace. The people of Australia are fed up.”
It’s not the first time crooks have stolen mobility scooters from the Townsend Rd area.
In April last year a group of thieves were caught on CCTV stealing a mobility scooter from a man suffering from motor neurone disease. A day later they returned and stole his replacement scooter as well as the car keys from a 92-yearold woman who was asleep in her unit at Tannoch Brae Retirement Village.
Another six mobility scooters were also stolen that same month.
Sergeant Shane Connolly said police were investigating the latest crimes.
He said the victims relied on their scooters to travel even small distances, and offenders who damaged or destroyed them had no empathy for their situation, particularly when it resulted in the victims being confined to their homes.
“Not only that, they’re also on the pension so these people now have to go and pay for damage that didn’t need to be done,” Sgt Connolly said.
“We hope somebody knows something about it, shows some empathy and consideration and calls us. Feeling safe is a big priority for everyone and I wonder if it was (the thieves’) grandmother whether they would have done it.”
In recent weeks elderly residents across Geelong have been targeted by thieves, with one man and his 93-year-old father bashed and robbed in their Hamlyn Heights home and another man, aged 76, carjacked in Norlane while waiting at an intersection.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.