Daylight robbery

By Emma Sun
AN elderly Dandenong woman was left reeling after a callous thief stole $11,000 worth of cash and gold jewellery as she was mowing her lawn.
The incident, which police believe is linked to two other burglaries in the area, occurred in her home in Scott Street at about noon on 24 November.
Joyce, who preferred not to have her surname published, said about $1200 in cash was a year’s instalment of her health insurance, which is due this Saturday.
She said she had been skimping on luxuries such as heating to save up for the payment, which she now can’t afford.
“I’ve been saving the money for my HBA cover – I’ve gone without so much to do it. I don’t turn the heater on when it gets cold to save costs.”
Joyce also couldn’t afford home insurance, as all her money was going towards her health insurance.
Police believe the man jumped over the back fence to gain entry into the home, before she caught him fumbling through the drawers in her upstairs bedroom.
She said she confronted the thief, and screamed for him to get out of her house when she noticed he didn’t have a knife or a gun. She then watched him take off east down Scott Street.
Joyce, who lives alone, said she would not let the theft influence her faith in the community, and would not let it get her down right before Christmas.
“I’m not giving in to it, no way. I will not let it ruin my Christmas. I’ve been lucky – other people have bigger problems than me.”
Among the jewellery stolen was a necklace that belonged to Joyce’s great-grandmother.
Joyce described the necklace as gold with an oval pink stone in the centre, surrounded by eight tiny rosettes. The gold chain has pearls between the links.
Another, possibly related incident occurred in Pickett Street last Saturday at 5.50pm where a 76-year-old woman was walking in Cadd Lane to put her bins out when she noticed a man walking a small white dog.
She spoke with him briefly before going back inside when she noticed him in the garage.
After he left, she realised her back door was open and her wallet had been stolen.
She described the man as 170 centimetres tall, thin with short, light brown hair, clean shaven and wearing faded jeans.
The other incident happened in Wilma Avenue last Sunday between 10am and 10.30am, where a man walked into the backyard of a house and stole a purse from a handbag.
The man stated he was looking for work, when he was confronted by the victim and ran from the home.
The victim described the man as about 175cm tall, thin, clean-shaven and wearing a cream cap and T-shirt and black jeans. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dandenong Police station on 9767 7444.