A South Coast couple has been left heartbroken after brazen thieves stole their late son’s boat from their garage over the weekend.
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The boat was stored under lock and key in Graeme Allen’s garage on Naval Parade, Erowal Bay last Sunday - ready for an upcoming family fishing trip.
“I had to go away for medical treatment but we had packed the boat all ready for a fishing trip with the family when we got back,” he said.
“We had all the towels and picnic gear ready to go.”
But later that night, thieves broke the lock on Mr Allen’s side gate and proceeded to force their way into the garage, breaking the roller door. They took their vehicle onto Mr Allen’s property and hooked the boat up to a vehicle before fleeing the scene.
“My brother went by to check on the house and noticed the roller door was up,” Mr Allen said.
“He called me and said the boat was gone and my heart just sank to the ground.”
The boat, worth $55,000 was named Aussie Blue, and belonged to Mr Allen’s only son.
“These people [thieves] have no idea the impact this has had on our family,” he said.
“It’s very upsetting that people think they can steal things that you work so hard for or that you have such an emotional attachment to.
“I don’t want the insurance money, I don’t want a new boat. I want my son’s boat back.”
Mr Allen believes the boat was taken just after 10pm on Sunday, after a witness recalled seeing the boat on the Princes Highway.
“A woman was driving on the highway from Huskisson to Sanctuary Point and saw a late-model 4WD Ford Ranger driving erratically with a boat attached to it,” Mr Allen said.
The boat was then seen on the water at Sussex Inlet on Monday, before being spotted travelling north on the highway at Albion Park on Tuesday.
“We put up a Facebook post and another woman recalled seeing the name ‘Aussie Blue’ on a boat travelling north,” he said.
“It was then seen again travelling near Sydney later on, with four young blokes in the 4WD.”
Mr Allen has urged anyone who was travelling from Albion Park to Sydney from 7am on January 8 to come forward with any dashcam footage they may have.
“The police are still trying to get a number plate for the car and any dashcam footage could be a big help,” he said.
“If you saw Aussie Blue, please let us know. It’s heartbreaking.”
Aussie Blue’s trailer registration number is Z27136, while the boat registration is ID0053N.
If you have any information, contact Nowra Police on 4421 9699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
