Disability service van hit by second theft
A local disability service and its clients were left devastated at damage to its transport bus for the second time in six months.
The Cassidy Crew’s Pauline Luchetta said the theft of a catalytic converter from the vehicle parked overnight at its headquarters in North Rd, Warragul just before midnight on Monday was greatly disappointing.
“The clients are so disappointed because it’s go to Gumbuya World for free if you live in Baw Baw Shire,” Ms Luchetta said last week. “We organised a trip for Friday.”
Whilst Cassidy Crew eventually organised private vehicles to ensure the outing eventuated, Ms Luchetta said the repair bill would be in the thousands and followed a similar theft late last year.
“It’s just a pain in the butt,” she said. “It costs a fortune. We’ve got a bus out of action until we can get parts.”
“It’s not even just about us being a disability service, it’s about stealing from anyone. It affects so many people’s lives.”
She urged community members to look out for each other and report any suspicious behaviour, such as a person with a backpack in an industrial area at night, to police.
“We can’t change what’s happened but hopefully stop it happening again.”
Warragul police arrested a man on Monday, May 23 after the attempted theft of a catalytic converter from a 2012 Toyota Hiace van at an Albert Rd business premises in Warragul.
Police allege the converter was halfway off and believed the offender was spooked before running from the scene.
Police also received reports of a catalytic convertor being stolen from a Toyota van parked at a rental car depot in Queen St, Warragul overnight on May 23.
Police arrested a 25-yearold man from Churchill at 3.45am. He was charged and bailed.