Masked thieves target sleeping families in terrifying Bokarina home invasions
Masked thieves have targeted homes in an affluent Sunshine Coast suburb, stealing children’s birthday money and a car while a family slept just metres away.
An affluent Sunshine Coast suburb has been taken under siege by masked thieves, with the intruders stealing a child’s birthday money while he was still asleep.
Carly Maselli is one of the Bokarina homeowners who had her Driftwood Crt home broken into around 2am on October 29.
Ms Maselli realised there had been a break in when she woke at 5am that day and noticed a door was left open.
“I noticed a really cool breeze and then I noticed the back door was open, so I just went and closed it, thinking we left the door open that night,” Ms Maselli said.
“Then I noticed that the fly screen had been pushed in and the window was open, and then it just hit me that someone has obviously pushed the fly screen in and opened the door and we’ve been burgled.
“Then I looked out the front to see what cars were there and my husband’s car was gone.”
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said a Toyota HiLux was stolen from the property.
“The Toyota was located abandoned but not damaged around 8am on Tepequar Drive, Maroochydore,” the spokeswoman said.
Ms Maselli said they also went through each of their bedrooms to steal valuables, including into her 12 year-old, nine year-old, and six year-old children’s rooms.
“They stole watches, jewellery, cash, my kids’ money boxes with their birthday money,” Ms Maselli said.
According to Ms Maselli’s camera footage, she said it looked like three people broke into her home.
Ms Maselli said her whole family felt “really rattled and shaken”.
“I couldn’t believe that there were people inside our house,” Ms Maselli said.
“Not even a metre away from my kids’ beds, going through their bedside tables, like, and it’s just so scary to think how lucky are we that we were all unharmed.
“They can take whatever they want because at the end of the day, we’re all OK.”
Vicki Cardilini and her husband were also asleep at her Oceanic Drive home that same morning when they heard someone yelling downstairs.
“I was trying to work out what was going on, and I stayed in the bedroom with my dog,” Ms Cardilini said.
“I heard the slide door shut, my husband came up to say three people were entering the door as he came down the stairs.
“He yelled several times and they took off.
“They had gloves and face masks on.”
Ms Cardilini called the police, and nothing was stolen from her property due to her “husband disturb[ing] them”.
She also said this was the third attempted break-in she had experienced in the past 14 months, and the first time someone had entered her home.
“The first break-in, I was at home on my own, and my five-month-old pup heard them and barked and they ran off.
“The second time I got up the front gate was open, my car doors were open and the car manual was on the front seat,” Ms Cardilini said.
Ms Cardilini said these break-ins were becoming a part of “our normal life”.
“I don't feel safe, and these kids need consequences for their actions,” Ms Cardilini said.
Ms Vaselini said she felt angry following the break-in.
“I’m angry, and everyone needs to make sure they lock up,” Ms Maselli said.
A Queensland Police spokeswoman said they were investigating the break-ins.
“Police are investigating reports of two break and enters in Bokarina this morning, October 29,” the police spokeswoman said.
The police spokeswoman also said it was not confirmed whether the two incidents were linked.
“Investigations are ongoing and it is not yet known if these incidents are linked,” the police spokeswoman said.
“Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam vision of Oceanic Drive, Driftwood Crt or Tepequar Drive, is urged to contact police.”
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