The Tribune

WHILE a rugby match was in full swing at the Winton Rugby pitch at about 10:30 Saturday morning the window of a coach’s jeep was smashed and his wife’s handbag was stolen.

“Two men were seen walking the length of the parked cars, but no one paid attention because you can’t tell whether they have come to do mischief or watch the game,” said a spectator.

Suddenly, the jeep’s window was smashed, the handbag was snatched and a car swung into the car park, picked up the thief and sped off.

While the owner waited for the police to come, a bystander consoled him: “Don’t feel bad because recently in broad daylight a house just behind the Elizabeth Estates police station was cleaned out in broad daylight and the police haven’t caught the thieves yet!”

A few days later a resident in the area of the rugby pitch discovered among the garbage in his yard a credit card, ATM card and driver’s licence. The resident turned his find into the police. The thieves had dumped them from the handbag, but made off with it and the money it contained — about $50.

And this weekend a woman’s car was bumped from behind. She got out to see what happened, while car-jackers jumped in the front seat and sped off. The car was later found in the Kemp Road area.

“This happens quite a lot,” The Tribune was told. “Women are the particular targets. Especially now that Christmas is near residents should be particularly careful about this.”