By LAURA WAKELY
A CAR belonging to a disabled Hillside woman was stolen, burnt out and sold for scrap metal last month.
Alison Augis was devastated to find her 1983 Toyota Cressida had been stolen overnight on Friday 13 April and Saturday 14 April.
Although the car’s value was so low it wasn’t worth insuring, it had once belonged to Ms Augis brother and held plenty of memories.
It was also the only mode of transportation for the retiree and her husband, who both have limited mobility.
To add insult to injury, the car was discovered in Beattys Rd four days after Ms Augis reported it missing.
But without her knowledge, Caroline Springs Police handed the car over to Melton Shire Council who towed and sold it for scrap metal.
It wasn’t until Ms Augis contacted police herself for an update on the stolen vehicle that she was told it was “halfway to Asia” as recycled scrap metal.
While Ms Augis conceded the vehicle was unsalvageable she said she was shocked the police and council had taken her registered vehicle without contacting her.
“What right did they have when they knew it was a stolen car?” Ms Augis said.
“I’m not looking for charity, but if we wanted to sell it for scrap metal, we should have had that right.”
Caroline Springs Police did not return messages left by Star, but Melton Shire’s Compliance Manager Ian Stewart said council did not have access to the owner’s details.
Mr Stewart claimed council did not make a profit from the transaction and said Ms Aguis had likely benefited from council removing the car as the fees and charges of towing would be greater than the value of the wreck.
As previously reported by Star, three cars are stolen every day in Brimbank (Huge crime rise, Star, 7 March) and Keilor Downs Sergeant Col Gilmour said police didn’t often have time to follow up the crimes because crimes against people, such as armed robberies and assaults, would take priority.
He said around 90 per cent of stolen cars were recovered, but were often in poor condition.
Prevention was the key, according to Sgt Gilmour said.
His top three tips for preventing car theft was to make sure there are no visible valuables in the vehicle, park in a well-lit area and look into crime-prevention measures such as “kill-switches”.
