POLICE NABBED MY PARTNER’S CAR THIEVES

LUCY Brownless, pictured, has broken her silence on the comeuppance for the criminals who stole her partner’s car from a Geelong property.

The daughter of Geelong Cats great Billy Brownless and her boyfriend, St Kilda young gun Paddy McCartin, expressed their relief after the thieves were caught in recent days.

“They were really young kids and had broken into a few homes in the area but at least no one was hurt,’’ Brownless said.

The couple was staying at the home of Brownless’s mum Nicky one night last month, but woke to find McCartin’s Toyota missing.

The car, containing McCartin’s football gear, had been taken from the front of the property.

The couple borrowed a vehicle and headed back to Melbourne only to find the front door of their Armadale home wide open and the lights on when they arrived.

It is believed the thieves used the car’s navigation system to find their home, and broke in and tried to take a television among other smaller items.

According to statistics from the National Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, Greater Geelong had the second highest number of car thefts for any municipality statewide last year. More than 830 thefts occurred in the Geelong council area during 2017, beaten by Hume council with 944.

Brownless also spoke yesterday of McCartin’s recent health troubles. “Paddy is just resting and he’s really remaining positive. He’s got the best people looking after him. It’s a little bit frustrating but he’s been amazing.”

Brownless took some time out yesterday at Chadstone Shopping Centre ahead of today’s Shop Til You Drop event.

There are more than 300 offers and discounts and a range of interactive experiences for shoppers with The Private Booth offering coffee, cupcakes and champagne. “This is right up my alley,’’ she said. “It’s a great concept.”