Family seek help following car theft

A YOUNG family are seeking support after their car was stolen and became tied up in the incident that led to the death of Robert Malayta.

Zac, who didn’t want his surname used, said thieves allegedly broke into their house on Tuesday about 5.30am. Zac and his wife woke up to police yelling and shining a torch into the house.

“Our neighbour over the road was the one who called the police after spotting two young people at the back of our car,” Zac said. “By the time the neighbour retrieved his phone and called police, the thieves were backing the car out of the driveway.”

It wasn’t until early Thursday morning they received the call that the vehicle, a Hyundai i30, was involved in an incident with police.

Townsville police had deployed stingers to try to stop the Hyundai on Riverway Drive, but the offenders ran off, jumping into the Ross River to avoid the dog squad.

Mr Malayta, 18, was pulled from the river on Friday morning after his body spent more than 24 hours underwater.

Zac said his family, which includes an 18-month-old daughter, are on a single income and were now faced with having to cover the insurance excess after the break-in and for the damage to the car.

While only one vehicle was stolen, thieves took keys to their other vehicle, which now needs to be re-keyed.

“I don’t have a working vehicle, or a car seat for my daughter. Her pram was in the boot of the car that’s gone too. We’re a single-income family so this is going to hit pretty hard.”

Friends of Zac have started a Gofundme page to help pay the insurance excess, with the family unsure if they will ever be able to use the car now it has been associated with a death.