Salisbury North mum’s car stolen with Christmas presents in the boot

Her car was brazenly stolen after being loaded on to a tow truck in the middle of the day – but that wasn’t even the worst part for this mother. Watch it happen.

Having her car brazenly stolen by a trio with a tow truck was shocking, but when she realised her kids’ Christmas presents were in the boot, her heart broke even more.

Now, Salisbury North mum Karina Jayne faces the reality of being without a car and battling to re-buy the presents with police yet to track down her Mitsubishi or the thieves who took it.

Ms Jayne, 35, had stored the toys in the boot of her car to hide them from her two children, aged 10 and 6.

Her car was parked on quiet Culver Ave on Thursday last week when she left to go to the shops.

But minutes after she left another car pulled up behind hers – which she described as her “pride and joy” 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer – followed by a tow truck.

Salisbury North mother Karina Jayne had her car stolen with her children's Christmas presents in the boot. Picture: Brinley Duggan

In the blink of an eye her car was loaded on to the truck and taken.

Despite the apparently calculated nature of the theft, an SA Police spokeswoman said it was unique and she could not think of a similar recent incident.

The theft was captured by her neighbours’ security camera and shows the brazen sequence of events that day.

“I have been angry and upset about it all, I can’t get my head around it,” Ms Jayne said.

“They could see I have children and didn’t hesitate.

“It creeped me out because I felt like I had been watched and it was planned and set up.”

Ms Jayne said, without a driveway, the street was the only place she could park and she had stored Christmas presents in the boot for years without issue.

“Ever since I was a teenager I wanted a 2007 Lancer, now it hurts when I think about it because I know I can’t replace it and it don’t think I’ll ever get it back,” she said.

“I won’t be able to afford to buy another car for a long time, and I won’t be able to replace that Lancer easily.”

Brazen thieves use a tow truck to steal a Salisbury North mum's Mitsubishi. Picture: Supplied

Ms Jayne said she had lived in Salisbury for a decade and had never had any issues, but now was beginning to question the area’s safety.

“I don’t feel like my home is safe anymore because people helped themselves to something on my property that was very valuable,” she said.

SA Police data released earlier this month shows the combined Salisbury area is one of the most likely areas for a car to be stolen from.

Thirty-five people have been charged with offences relating to car thefts from Salisbury, Salisbury Downs, Salisbury East, Salisbury Heights, Salisbury North and Salisbury Plain in 2022.

Behind Adelaide, in which 51 theft/illegal use of motor vehicle charges laid by police, Salisbury itself recorded the second highest number in the state at 17.

Police are continuing to investigate and ask anybody who may have information, or who has seen a silver sedan with number plate XNY113 to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.