Here’s a scenario every surfer encounters:
The waves are pumping. They suit up, wax up, slather some sunscreen on their face, pick the peak their going to sit on, lock up the whip, and they’re out there.
While their focus is on the waves, they can’t help but wonder about their car, unattended, back on land. And all too often shady individuals are monitoring those cars, knowing the surfer is preoccupied in the lineup, and looking for a quick come-up.
@7newsaustralia A Toyota Prado was stolen in front of beachgoers at Tweed Heads, almost hitting a man and child. #stolencar#theft#TweedHeads#7NEWS
Usually it’s just a break-in, a smash-and-grab, with the thief looking for anything valuable, swiping it, and getting out of there before the surfer comes back to shore.
But something much more nefarious went down. Someone’s 4WD vehicle was fully stolen while the surfer was in the water, and the bandit had a wild ride, jumping up on the curb, and endangering pedestrians as they fled the scene. All in broad daylight.
It happened at Duranbah, the punchy beachbreak just around the bend from Snapper Rocks on Australia’s Gold Coast. A reporter from The Age explains the situation:
Related: Video: Mayhem and Mutant Waves from Snapper Rocks
“This was during a really busy time. This is a really popular surf spot, not only for surfers, but for families on the weekend. And the footpath was absolutely packed.
“You can see that car, which was just stolen, just a couple centimeters away from its owner, mount the footpath and speed down a few hundred meters.”
So, did they catch the thief? The reporter continues:
“The owner tells me that police managed to find the car, because the iPhone of his was on the backseat and pinged the location just about five minutes away at Tweed City Mall.
“The offender, however, is still on the run.”
Time to invest in a lockbox?
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