Photographer Jake Brereton left devastated after camera gear stolen in cruel theft
One of the Gold Coast’s most prominent photographers has been left ‘deflated and lost’ after all of his camera gear was stolen in an opportunistic theft.
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A prominent Gold Coast photographer has issued a desperate plea to thieves after his entire camera collection was stolen.
Jake Brereton, 24, was left “deflated and lost” after $6000 of photography equipment was stolen when his van was taken from outside a Brisbane home on Sunday night.
The happy-go-lucky snapper is a regular sight on wavebreaks around the southern Gold Coast and has also been the face of the ocean photography community through regular meet up events.
His entire kit, including DSLR cameras, Go Pros, accessories and memory cards – along with surfboards and a wetsuit – were inside the van when it was stolen.
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However Mr Brereton believes the sticky-fingered thieves may not have known what they were taking.
“To be honest I don’t think they knew what was in there, maybe they were after the van to scrap it for parts,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“It’s a real kick in the guts, I was pretty shattered, I sat there and had a little cry, it was a hard pill to swallow.
“All my ocean career was in that van, all I have left is a GoPro with 10 per cent battery and no charger and without my cameras I can’t do what I love.”
Since the theft Mr Brereton has spent each night searching for the stolen van “hoping and praying” that it might turn up.
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The surfer-turned-snapper said it was heartbreaking to lose the van.
“That van was my home away from home, it had a bed in it and I’d hop in the van, go to Snapper (Rocks) or Coolangatta, park up and shoot all day then sleep in the back and do again in the morning,” he said.
“On the Gold Coast I’ll leave my van open because I know everyone, I know it’s safe, whereas in Brisbane I lock everything up.
“I don’t know why they’d want to steal it, it’s an old van, there was a Mercedes-Benz nearby!”
In a further stroke of bad luck, Mr Brereton’s insurance had expired less than a month ago, leaving him with nothing.
Locals have joined together to help pay for new equipment with the help of a Go Fund Me page set up by a complete stranger.
“I’ve never even met the fella who set it up, he’s a photographer too and I met him through Instagram, it put a real smile on my face,” Mr Brereton said.
“The girls and guys have been sending me lots of positive vibes, and that’s what we’re about as a community, we’re about helping each other out.”
Anyone who has any information about the missing Toyota Hiace registration number 358 XOY is urged to contact police.
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