Thieves target blaze victims

Dunalley despair over callous spree of break-ins

RESIDENTS who lost everything in the 2013 Dunalley bushfires are now the target of cruel thieves.

Shock, anger and disappointment all ran through Dunalley resident Ray Quarrell’s mind when he realised his property had been robbed last weekend.

The well-known sports coach lost everything in the January 2013 blaze that devastated the town, including all of his coaching equipment plus the family home.

Mr Quarrell’s house was one of three burgled in the quiet coastal community last Friday night or early Saturday morning.

“I felt shock when I opened the door, then anger, then total disappointment.

“I just felt like saying to these people ‘give a guy a break — everyone in this community is working together to get back on their feet’.”

Several people broke into Mr Quarrell’s shed and attempted to steal his utility. When they failed at that, they turned their attention to a new Husqvana ride-on mower.

The thieves rolled the mower out of the shed on to Mr Quarrell’s trailer but the trailer tipped with the weight of the machine and couldn’t be budged.

Thieves took a number of new power tools from his shed, including chainsaws, drills and an angle grinder.

All the tools were new to replace the ones Mr Quarrell lost in the fire.

“We can’t be blase in the bush anymore,’’ he said.

Bellerive CIB detectives are investigating the series of crimes in the Dunalley area.

A police spokesman said the crimes relate to a number of burglaries of residences, vehicles, sheds and yards where a range of property was removed. A vehicle was also stolen.

Stolen property includes tools, a camera and other household items.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the Dunalley area between Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6.

Any information can be left anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or by calling police on 131 444.