Cancer victim’s car stolen
An ‘‘irreplaceable’’ AC Cobra car – bought using a cancer sufferer’s life insurance money – has been stolen from a fortified garage in Takanini.
Thieves cut the steel bollards securing the car inside the garage and drove away with the $130,000 classic car before 7.30am on Saturday.
They then returned to the Mill Rd property and stole the house’s security camera motherboard along with a 55-inch Samsung TV, stereos, tools and cash.
The car’s owners, Donna Douglas, 52, and her husband Brad, 47, say they are devastated beyond belief.
‘‘The car is irreplaceable in so many ways. I bought it for my husband after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago,’’ Donna says.
‘‘It was his dream car.
‘‘I caught him checking it out on Trade Me one day, so I went and bought it for him when I received some money for trauma cover with my life insurance – it’s pretty special.’’
Donna says she often gets asked why she didn’t buy something for herself instead.
‘‘My husband is an absolute honey so I couldn’t think of anything better to do with then money than buy him that car.
‘‘I could have put it on the mortgage but then, having breast cancer, I realised that life’s too short and we might as well do something enjoyable with the money.’’
The car was assembled in Christchurch and is the only one of its kind as they can be built in different styles.
The family is asking people to look out for it or any of its parts, including its seven litre big block 427 engine and SS Crager wheels.
Donna says the thieves have obviously known that the car was in the garage. ’’They brought a grinder or gas axe to cut the steel bollards,’’ she says.
The whole scene was caught on the neighbour’s security camera, which looks over the Douglas’ property.
‘‘We’ve got footage of them driving off with at 7.30 in the morning with the Cobra – with a white Mitsubishi Triton wagon following.’’
The family is offering a reward for information leading to the return of the car.
Anyone with information can call the Papakura police station on 295 0200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.