Crash victim robbed as being treated

A woman robbed in the aftermath of a serious car accident says it has left her ‘‘crippled’’.

Last Thursday, Shevaughn Johnstone was involved in a headon collision with a truck on Cosgrove Rd in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura.

While she was being cut out of her car and stabilised in an ambulance, a male bystander allegedly reached into her bag and stole her wallet and iPhone before getting into a silver station wagon.

Almost immediately, Johnstone’s Visa card was used eight times at various local petrol stations and at a Warehouse outlet.

Police have confirmed an image released online is the man they are looking for in connection with the purchases made on her card.

Johnstone revealed that a friend of a friend found her empty wallet up on a footpath after seeing it thrown out from a silver car’s window.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Johnstone said her bank account was drained of more than $600, which had ‘‘crippled us’’.

‘‘It was a very, very callous thing to do.’’

She said she’s ‘‘OK [but] I’m still a bit shocked.

‘‘I’ve had reconstructive surgery on my arm. My arm was crushed and badly cut open,’’ she said.

‘‘They put in a fake elbow. I have a plastic elbow.’’

She will also need extensive physiotherapy to regain movement in her hand.

Johnstone said she had no memory of the accident and woke up in hospital wondering why she was there.

Her card was used eight times after the accident and she said each purchase was just under $80 so they could use the PayWave function on her card.

PayWave allows users to pay for items by waving the card over an electronic machine, instead of inserting or swiping it. Purchases up to the value of $80 can be made without the need for a pin number.

She said at one petrol station the alleged offender made two transactions and when the petrol station attendant asked him to use a pin the second time, he said he didn’t know it.

The driver of the truck involved in her accident had also visited.

‘‘He said, ‘I’ve been really worried about you’.’’

Counties-Manukau South area prevention manager Inspector Tony Wakelin called the theft ‘‘a very callous act’’.

‘‘The offender’s actions by preying on someone who was involved in a serious crash has only added to her trauma.’’