By JESSE GRAHAM
LILYDALE’S Holy Fools charity has had a bitter-sweet ending to their van’s disappearance, after police located the stolen vehicle damaged and re-painted in Chirnside Park.
Police from Maroondah Police Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) executed a warrant last week at a Chirnside Park address, where the van was found, along with two stolen motorbikes, stolen bikes and power tools.
The van, a 2003 Toyota HiAce had been missing since the weekend of 22-23 March, when it was stolen with thousands of dollars of food and equipment during a break-in at Holy Fool’s Swansea Road building.
From computers, printers, backpack beds for homeless people and even the building’s phone system, the charity was devastated by the robbery.
Yarra Valley and Dandenongs residents posted sightings of the van onto the Holy Fools Facebook page, with one sighting reported in Mansfield – some 150 kilometres away.
On the group’s Facebook page, it was announced that the now-recovered van was written-off due to the damage, and that fund-raising had begun for a new van.
The motorbikes were stolen from the East Melbourne area, while the tools and bikes were taken in burglaries in the Croydon Hills, Mornington and Lilydale areas.
Maroondah CIU Senior Constable Matthew Brennan said the van had been spray-painted to disguise it, as it was covered in easily-identifiable logos when it was stolen.
A 38-year-old Chirnside Park man was arrested, charged and remanded in relation to the thefts, and the matter is still before the court.
The charity was bolstered by community donations and fund-raising events in the aftermath of the theft, and is currently raising money for a new van.
For more information, or to donate, visit www.facebook.com/holyfools or www.holyfools.org.au/support-us.
Hi-tech musical thieves
LILYDALE police are searching for information after computers and a musical instrument were stolen from Mount Evelyn last month.
Between 8am-4.30pm on Thursday 30 April, computer equipment, including a laptop and an iPad tablet, and an electric guitar were stolen from a Clegg Road property.
Police believe the thief smashed a window to gain access to the property, and the value of the items is estimated to be $2000.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lilydale police on 9739 2300 or Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.
Fog crash warning out
MONBULK police officers are urging drivers to take care during foggy mornings, after a “severe” crash yesterday morning.
Leading Senior Constable Ken Tromp told the Mail that, at 6.20am on Monday 4 May 34-year-old Wandin East driver failed to give way on the corner of Monbulk Road and Ferndale road in Silvan, T-boning another car, driven by a 37-year-old Emerald man.
“It was a pretty severe impact,” Leading Sen Const Tromp said.
Both drivers received minor injuries, but were not taken to hospital.
Leading Sen Const Tromp said the Wandin East man was expected to be charged with failing to give way.
He asked drivers to be careful when making their way through the hills on foggy mornings, especially when the road is wet.
