The theft of a safe containing $13,000 in cash and jewellery been described as a “kick in the guts” by a Port Fairy farmer whose wife is undergoing cancer treatment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The couple had been away for the weekend for a pre-Christmas get together with extended family when they returned to find their house had been burgled.
Long-time resident Terry Coffey said he and his wife, along with their children and grandchildren, had travelled to the Bellarine Peninsula about 11am Friday and returned about 3pm Sunday.
Mr Coffey’s wife, Marie, then discovered the safe containing cash and jewellery had been ripped from a wall in the bedroom.
“It really couldn’t have come at a worse time because she’s undergoing chemo treatment at the moment for breast cancer and it’s really set her back a little bit,” he said.
“She was diagnosed with breast cancer in late August and has been in and out of the cancer centre in Warrnambool ever since then and it’s still ongoing. She’s got further treatment now up in to the New Year.
“It hasn’t been easy.
“It’s a bit of a kick in the guts.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever had any trouble at all and it’s very disappointing.
“Really it’s just the timing that’s most upsetting.”
Mr Coffey said the main items in the safe were jewellery, most of which had been given to his wife by himself or other family members.
However, the safe also contained two watches that had sentimental value – one that had been left to Mrs Coffey by her mother, and the other was from her brother who had also passed away.
“One was a pendant watch, and the other was a service watch from Murray Goulburn where my brother-in-law used to work,” Mr Coffey said.
Detective Sergeant Andy Raven, of the Warrnambool Criminal Investigations Unit, said nothing else was believed to have been stolen during the break-in.
Other items in the safe, which measured about eight inches square, were rings and a pearl necklace.
“It’s not a nice thing to have to come home to,” he said.
“Some of the items have sentimental value and if whoever has taken it can show some compassion and return them.”
Detective Sergeant Raven called for anyone who may have seen any suspicious vehicles in the area of the Hamilton Port Fairy Road to contact police.
