By Kath Gannaway
POLICE have described as “a low act” the theft of copper piping, a hot water service and farm gates from a burnt-out property in Chum Creek.
The thieves destroyed a shower block on the former Melbourne University Camp property to get to the piping and cut through a heavy chain and padlocks to steal the gates.
The 80-acre bushland property is now used as a family holiday retreat.
Owners Doug and Ingrid Smith are devastated, saying they cannot believe anyone would go into an area so obviously affected by the fires and destroy what was left.
Detective Senior Constable Ross Hill of Lilydale CIB shares their view. He said they were very keen to find the thieves.
“This family has been through the mill and it’s a low act for someone to come in and do this sort of thing, especially in these circumstances,” he said.
The Smiths have had more than their share of fire dramas, starting with a house fire 20 years ago which destroyed their house in Old Healesville Road.
Mrs Smith also had a share in a house which she and the co-owner were renovating in Healesville and which was maliciously torched by vandals three years ago.
On Saturday 7 February Mrs Smith was in another part of the Yarra Valley when the fires came through. As she tried in vain to get back to the family home in Old Healesville Road, her husband and daughter were fighting off flames as the fire threatened to take hold.
“The whole deck and front of the house was on fire. They didn’t have time to get the generators going but managed to get to the front of the house with the hoses and put the fire out before the power went out,” she said.
More than $6000 worth of horse feed was also destroyed. It was an agonising wait as Mrs Smith was stuck for six and a half hours at road blocks.
The fire went through the Chum Creek property too burning two cottages to the ground, but miraculously sparing another building and the shower block.
The thefts and destruction of the shower block were discovered by Mr and Mrs Smith’s sons when they went up after Easter to fix fences.
“The boys were furious. When they got there they found that someone had cut the posts and taken the gate and had completely smashed the internal walls of the shower block to get to the copper piping.
“You think that what you have left will remain intact, but I believe this sort of thing has happened elsewhere where people were not on their properties.
“For others to just come along and take advantage of others’ misfortune, when others have shown so much generosity in trying to help each other, is very hard to understand,” Mrs Smith said.
Ironically, the Smiths made a valuable contribution from their Chum Creek property to the fire-fighting effort on the day.
“The helicopters used water from the dam on the property to fill up,” Mrs Smith explained. “We don’t need that water for stock or anything else, so, of course, we are happy to have had that water to donate,” she said.
Police have said the value of the stolen items is around $5000, but the damage to the building will cost very much more.
Det Sen Const Hill said they believe the theft occurred sometime between 20 February and 8 April and are calling for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
