Riverview house fire: Lara Burgess and Kurt Beyer’s house broken into four days after fire
A southeast Queensland couple who are still reeling after their house burned down eight days ago have been dealt another kick in the guts, as thieves broke in to the remains and stole thousands of dollars-worth of property. Here is what was taken.
Ipswich
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A couple already shattered by the destruction of the home they had worked for years to improve was hit with a gut wrenching blow only a few days later.
Lara Burgess and Kurt Beyer, whose Riverview home was destroyed by fire on August 5, this week discovered someone had broken into their property on Tuesday and stolen items including a motorcycle, tools, and an air-compressor from an undamaged garage and shed.
Ms Burgess, who was stricken with grief over the double blow, said she found it hard to believe the thieves could be so low as to target the victims of a house fire.
“It is just cruel,” she said.
“They went through drawers and everything, they stole spare keys.
“There are cruel people out there and it just isn’t fair.”
The stolen KTM 450 motorcycle belongs to Mr Beyer, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and has been in and out of hospital.
When the fire hit last Thursday afternoon, Ms Burgess, Mr Beyer and Ms Burgess’s son were all out, leaving their two dogs behind.
Luckily, a bystander forced entry and saved the dogs, which have been staying with family friends since the fire.
The insurance company put the couple and their son in emergency accommodation at a motel but they are in the process of looking for a place to rent so that they can be reunited with their pets.
Ms Burgess and Mr Beyer have been together 10 years and are engaged to be married.
They had spent the past eight years saving money and improving their Brisbane Rd home bit by bit, adding a new kitchen, back deck and solar power.
It is believed an electrical fault caused the fire and there are no suspicious circumstances.
Police are investigating the break-in.
“I don’t care about me but I care about Kurt,” Ms Burgess said.
“He has been through so much.”
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