DEVASTATED: Sister and brother Millie and Jake Stannard along with Kristal Highley in the garage where thieves stole motorbikes from their Woollamia property in the early hours of Sunday morning. All that was left were the bike stands and a mountain bike.
A WOOLLAMIA family has been devastated by a robbery in which five motorbikes were stolen.
The Stannard family, which owns and operates Bloomin Blossums Nursery on Woollamia Road, awoke on Sunday morning to find someone had broken into a garage next to their home.
Mother Kerry Stannard was working at the Huskisson market when her son Jake made the heartbreaking discovery.
“Someone had managed to gain access to the garage and take five bikes, one of which was brand new, only purchased a week before Christmas,” she said.
“It was pretty brazen. We had five cars and a couple of trucks on the five-acre property, all in and around the garage and they managed to get in and remove the bikes through the cars.
“We found tracks leading through the grass and off the property.”
Even more heartbreaking was the fact that an 11-year-old friend, Bailey Green, who was staying at the property had the motorbike he was given in 2011 for Christmas (a Peewee 80) and a pushbike he received just three weeks ago also for Christmas stolen.
The theft included 21-year-old Jake’s 2009 Yamaha YZF 250, his girlfriend Kristal Highley’s (19) 2003 Honda XR 80, his sister Millie’s (19) three-week-old 2012 Kawasaki KLX 140 and a mate Josh Shoals’ (20) Yamaha YZ 426.
Amazingly, an expensive mountain bike was left behind by the thieves on the floor of the garage and a XR ute in the next bay was untouched.
“It is just devastating, especially for young Bailey who lost two Christmas presents in one go,” Mrs Stannard said.
“We just can’t get over how brazen it was. We were all here staying on the property and we didn’t hear a thing.
“To be able to get in and get out through such a maze of cars and then transport five bikes and a pushbike, they were pretty well prepared – it looks pretty professional.
“I can’t believe it, I’m speechless.
“It’s tough on the kids. They all work hard and either saved or borrowed to get their bikes and now they are all gone.”
Millie’s KLX 140 was just three weeks old, and she hadn’t even made a payment on it.
“I’ve taken it on one ride,” she said.
“I got it the week before Christmas, it cost me $4500 – it’s all gone.”
Thousands of dollars worth of equipment including helmets and boots, which were nearby, were untouched.
“We just all get together and go out to Nerriga and camp and go riding,” Jake said.
“Josh and I go riding nearly every weekend.
“We sometimes head out to places near Yerriyong – it doesn’t look like that will be happening again for a fair while.
“We’ve lived here 20 years and never had any problems.”
Anyone with information about the thefts can contact Nowra Police on 4421 9699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.