Burnt out car leaves Varsity Lakes residents fearing suburb turning into a ghetto
The presence of a single vehicle in a suburban Gold Coast street has left residents fearing their suburb looks like a “ghetto”. Find out what happened.
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The presence of a single vehicle in a suburban Gold Coast street has left residents fearing their suburb looks like a “ghetto”.
A completely destroyed silver Mercedes sits at the end of Avellino Drive, Varsity Lakes.
It has been there since Monday with no sign of moving further.
John Coutinho, who lives just down the street from where the damaged luxury car lays, said the vehicle caught fire about 2.15am on Monday, October 17.
He said fire crews and police were on the scene.
Since the fire was extinguished, the car has just sat there with police tape around the roof.
The front under of the car is completely destroyed.
“It’s been a bit of a tourist attraction with people coming down to take photos,” he said.
But it is not the kind of attention the street wants.
“It's not a good look for the street,” he said.
“If anyone was trying to sell their house – it looks like a ghetto.”
Mr Coutinho said the car was a “pretty new” Mercedes but he was not sure why is was on fire.
The Mercedes badges are completely damaged on the front but visible at the back.
Varsity Lakes area councillor Hermann Vorster said he was aware of the car.
He said he spoke to police who informed him the vehicle had been stolen.
Mr Vorster said because the car was under investigation it was up to police to move the car.
He said he understood the destroyed car would be moved in the next couple of days, weather permitting.
A Queensland Police spokesman said it does not appear the car was stolen but that was yet to be confirmed.
Robina Police are still investigating.
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Originally published as Burnt out car leaves Varsity Lakes residents fearing suburb turning into a ghetto
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