A Turvey Park resident has found himself the target of vandalism and theft not once but twice and said he is feeling left devastated by the careless acts.
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Paul Diessel, a 62-year-old disability pensioner, scrimped and saved to buy himself a 1992 model Subaru Liberty on June 17.
The car was purchased for the bargain price of $1100 from a mechanic friend who got the vehicle in immaculate condition.
“You wouldn’t find a nice little car for the price I paid,” Mr Diessel said.
Two days later, Mr Diessel received a knock at the door by police asking if he was the owner of a Subaru.
Mr Diessel said he was and that it was parked in his driveway.
Police corrected him and said it was in a park near the Tolland neighbourhood centre.
“I’ve been here for five years and this is the only trouble I’ve had,” he said.
The car was stolen after 9.30pm on June 17 and Mr Diessel had to wait a couple of days to get it back while police fingerprinted it.
Mr Diessel paid $250 to repair two damaged rims, two tyres and the front suspension.
The car was again in good working condition and Mr Diessel said he was so impressed with how it was running he would have driven it to Melbourne or Sydney.
At 4.49am just a couple of days later, Mr Diessel got another knock at the door by police informing him that his car had again been found.
This time it was in a park near Bruce Street and it had been burnt out.
“I walked out and I was stunned,” Mr Diessel said.
“I was dumbfounded, I didn’t think it would happen twice.”
He had covered the vehicle with horse rugs to keep the frost off it and said he heard nothing during the night.
Mr Diessel said police indicated they knew who had committed both crimes but could not take action because they were children.
“I think the police know who they are but they can’t do anything,” he said.
“It frustrates you but the thing is, their hands are tied.”
Mr Diessel has been on a disability pension since he suffered extensive damage after being hit by a car.
He owns a car that has 60,000 kilometres on it and is about to run out of registration and Mr Diessel is convinced it would not pass inspection.
“I’m a battler, I’ve got to chase money,” he said.
“After the first time and getting it back I was happy but this time I’m down in the dumps but they won’t beat me.”
Mr Diessel is saving for another car.
