A 60-YEAR-OLD Moama man is in disbelief after a brazen thief stole his farming truck right in front of his eyes.
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Geoff Cain had backed his Holden Colorado ute out of his Shetland Drive property before parking it, with the keys still inside, on the side of the road about 7.45am on Friday.
“It was a million to one chance. I never leave my keys in the car as a rule but I was only going to grab my water bottle and no-one was in sight so I thought it'd be okay,” he said.
“I was gone for about a minute or so and when I came back out, I saw the arse-end of the ute driving away.”
The blue ute contained thousands of dollars’ worth of farming equipment, including a compressor, battery, tools and fencing gear.
“It's caused me a lot of grief,” Geoff said.
“It makes you feel so invaded and it's impacted me financially.
“I was shocked that he'd just hopped in and taken off. It's such a quiet street. I've been here five years and you never see people just lurking around.”
Geoff said a friend had seen his ute driving past the Moama BP in Meninya St a short time later.
“My ute stands out a bit because it's blue, has got mags and looks a bit flash. My friend said he saw a clean-shaven young bloke wearing a fluoro shirt driving it.”
While searching for his vehicle, Geoff found the lid of his toolbox on the road in front of the Echuca tip in on McKenzie Rd.
“It looks like he's headed out to Kyabram,” he said.
Acting Inspector Matthew Barham of Moama police said the vehicle had not been found.
“There is nothing to suggest it has been involved in other crimes,” he said.
“It hasn't been seen since though.”
Insp. Barham appealed to the Echuca-Moama and Kyabram community to keep an eye out for the ute.
Geoff had a message for the thief.
“I hope you're proud of yourself. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if it happened to you,” he said.
The 2008 ute, registration BFU 81F, has an aluminium bullbar and dark grey metal tray.
Anyone who has seen the vehicle or has information can contact Moama police on 5482 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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