Twice burned

By Tania Martin
A MONBULK family feels violated after someone went through the charred remains of their burnt house and stole copper pipes.
It is only three weeks ago that Katrina and Dean Martin watched in horror as the house they had spent six years renovating went up in flames.
On Wednesday, Dean, an electrician, discovered the copper pipe had been stolen.
This was a double blow for the Martins because Dean needed the pipe the next day for a job.
Both Katrina and Dean were shocked and disgusted that someone could steal the copper which was hidden under a trailer.
Mrs Martin said as well as the copper pipe being stolen, some of the family’s belongings had been moved.
“It’s like someone has gone through our belongings to see what they can get,” she said.
“What sort of low life would do something like this.”
Mrs Martin feels violated that someone could do such a thing after they have just lost their house and everything they own.
“Dean is still trying to make a living and people are stealing from us, which makes it twice as hard,” she said. Mrs Martin said there is a wire fence around the house to stop people gaining access but that has not kept people out.
“I don’t know what we can do short of having a security guard to stop people going through our house,” she said.
Mrs Martin said 99 per cent of the community has been great offering donations of furniture and clothes but it’s the one per cent that is making life hard for her family. “It’s just not fair. All we want is to rebuild our lives,” she said.
Sergeant Alan Fincher of Monbulk police said it is a disgrace that anyone would steal from a family who is already going through such a hard time.
“The family has lost all their possessions and to have this on top is just heartbreaking,” he said.
However, Sgt Fincher said this is not the first report of copper thefts.
He said the theft of copper is becoming a problem because people are getting good money from scrap metal dealers.
Sgt Fincher warns anyone with metal or copper to keep an eye on it and make sure it is securely locked away.