Family devastated after thief destroys beloved car, belongings

‘Anyone with any respect at all wouldn’t do that’: Northern Rivers couple forced to start again after cruel theft leaves their car burnt to a crisp.

The Casino family has been left despaired after a thief burnt their car until it was unrecognisable.

A Northern Rivers family has been left devastated after an opportunistic thief stole and burnt their beloved car, destroying belongings and leaving them without transport.

On Saturday morning, Casino couple Wayne Riley and Tamara Perry were only 3 metres away from the table where keys to the family ute lay when the thief crept in and stole them.

By 10pm, police had found the car, but what remained was heartbreaking.

The family detailed the widespread burn out on Facebook, the car left a pile of a metal and springs.

The Casino family has been left despaired after a thief burnt their car until it was unrecognisable.

“I’ve never seen a car like it in my life,” Mr Riley said.

“We both broke down, that was the family car. The only reliable car we’ve had.”

To make matters worse, like many caught in the rental crisis, the family were living with relatives and had left many of their belongings in the car.

“I just can’t believe someone would even think about stealing a car with baby seats in it,” Mr Riley said.

“They would have seen in the car, the kid’s school bags, their clothes and shoes.

“Anyone with any respect at all wouldn’t do that.”

Damage caused to the family car after is was stolen.

Mr Riley said he had worked five years to save up for the ute, and without it, the family was left without a way to work or get to school.

It was that despair that led their cousin and others to start a GoFundMe for the family and reach out.

From Damien Davis from Walkers Towing who had disposed of the car while the family was inconsolable to those who poured out their support “because it's hard enough to start again”, the family had been touched by the Northern Rivers response.

“When we first found out (about the car), you just think world is terrible but the next day, we had our family member set it up, and the support from the community has been amazing,” Mr Riley said.

“I’ve never taken anything from people, always worked my butt off and didn’t want anyone’s charity but they’ve said ‘we don’t care, we’re giving it anyway’.”

To donate to the GoFundMe, head here.