Search for ‘new girl’

By Kath Gannaway
A HEALESVILLE pensioner is faced with finding a replacement for the Corolla he affectionately called “the old girl” after it was stolen from his unit on St Leonard’s Road.
Kevin Harris, 75, had had his 1980 Toyota Corolla for 22 years and kept her in “beautiful nick”.
He told the Mail he was shocked when police arrived on his doorstep at 9.30am to tell him his car had been found at a lookout at the top of Don Road and that it had been completely gutted.
“I have been driving 57 years and have not even got a parking ticket … nothing. It’s a bit of a blow,” he said.
Mr Harris lives in a government housing complex and his car was one of several parked in the car park when it was stolen late on Thursday, 26 May or in the early hours of Friday.
It was fitted with a steering lock and the car park was well-lit.
“You try to take precautions, but if they want to steal something, they will do it,” he said.
“What I don’t understand is why burn it out.”
Having had to pay an insurance excess of $550, Mr Harris says he is doubtful he will get another car of the same reliability and quality with the insurance money.
Sergeant Wayne Williams of Healesville Police described the thieves as callous and low, saying it would have been obvious that the car belonged to an elderly person.
“It had been deliberately set on fire and destroyed,” he said.
“To target someone like this, steal their modest car and destroy it is one of the lowest acts seen in Healesville recently,” he said.
“Whoever is responsible should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”
He urged anyone with information to contact Leading Senior Constable Chris Hickey at Healesville Police on 5962 4422.