Coffs Harbour family’s car stolen, destroyed in fire

A Toormina family heard a “bang” at about 1.30am - and it was probably the noise of their car being taken from their driveway and later torched at a picturesque lookout. SEE THE PHOTOS

Roy Williamson by the family’s Toyota RAV4 which was stolen and destroyed by fire. Picture: Chris Knight

A Toormina family’s vehicle was stolen, driven to a picturesque lookout, and then apparently set alight in the early hours of Sunday.

Roy Williamson was at home with his partner when they heard a “bang” at about 1.30am.

“But we thought the noise had come from up the street,” Mr Williamson said.

The commotion was most likely the sound of their Toyota RAV4 being taken from their Kinchela Avenue driveway.

The vehicle - a government-owned work car driven by Mr Williamson’s partner - was found by Fire and Rescue NSW Sawtell brigade at 4am as it responded to a call of a car ablaze.

The car was already engulfed by flame when firefighters arrived. Picture: Chris Knight

Sawtell captain Brent Gerdes said the vehicle was well alight when firefighters found it in the bottom carpark at Boambee Headland.

“It was totally involved, totally destroyed,” Mr Gerdes said.

The fire burned so hot that only the metal survived - all the plastic and most of the rubber was dissolved.

The only visible reminder of some of the tyres - even the spare in the back - were the steel wire threads.

It appeared the car had been driven nose-first into a timber bollard at the carpark, where there were also signs of tyre marks.

An armed forces reservist’s kit and government fuel cards had been inside the Toyota RAV4. Picture: Chris Knight

Mr Williamson said his partner - a reservist in the armed forces - had lost her kit which had been in the Toyota.

Government fuel cards had also been inside.

A local resident near the carpark said she had heard loud popping noises at about 3am - quite probably tyres bursting in the heat.

Police are investigating.