Callous thieves torch pensioner's car

CALLOUS thieves have torched a Latrobe pensioner's only means of looking after her 92-year-old aunt. Legacy widow Heather Traill was yesterday struggling to come to terms with how people could be so cruel, after her uninsured car was stolen from her Fenton St home in the early hours of Saturday and found burnt out at East Devonport. She said the Toyota Camry was a write-off and she was now stranded. She could not afford another car. "I've got no money at all. "I only get a pension." She said she had been unable to afford car insurance and did not know how she could look after her aunt. "It's a bit of a bummer because I've got a 92-year-old aunt a couple of doors down. "I do her shopping and I've got an 82-year-old sister at Latrobe and I check on her and take her shopping." Mrs Traill has had a knee replacement, needs another, and struggles to walk far. Even getting to her aunt's was difficult and required rest breaks, she said. "I had to walk to my aunt's and had to keep stopping and leaning on my 11-year-old grandson." She said the fire had also destroyed items of sentimental value. They were her late mother's walking stick and her late husband, Stan's, collection of Slim Dusty tapes. "If they wanted to joy ride why couldn't they take it and leave it without destroying it?" Mrs Traill was not home when the car was stolen and her daughter, Kellie Traill, slept through the theft. "She's just devastated," Mrs Traill said. Police said the silver 1986 Camry appeared to have been dumped and set on fire in Tarleton St. They were called by a member of the public at 2.08am and believed the car was stolen between about 12.30am and about 2.30am. They said it appeared entry had been gained by breaking the driver's side lock and that the car had been pushed down the road before being started. Police are investigating and charges have not yet been laid. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 005 555 or Devonport Police on 64217511. Source: The Advocate.