Healesville: Buddha statue stolen from Shop Of New Beginnings

An elderly gift shop owner in the Yarra Valley has slammed the ungodly behaviour of a person who swiped a large statue from outside his store.

An elderly shop owner in the Yarra Valley has appealed for help after the “strange” disappearance of a Buddha statue from his gift shop.

Stu Bell took to the Yarra Valley Noticeboard Facebook group after the $250 statue was taken from outside the front of the Shop of New Beginnings on Maroondah Highway in Healesville.

Mr Bell, who is on holidays in Queensland, said he was told about the theft by his shop assistant, who noticed it was missing when she packed up the shop on Monday.

“I thought it would be bad karma if you believe in that sort of stuff,” Mr Bell told Leader.

“I have a bit of trouble understanding how people can walk past a shop and think, ‘I’ll just take that’ … especially something of religious strength.”

“It’s a beautiful piece, it took me two months to get it back in, and now it’s gone.”

Mr Bell, 70, has owned the gift shop for seven years with wife Joan, and said the theft was another blow to his back pocket.

He said he hadn’t reported the theft to police as he didn’t have CCTV footage and the store “relied on people’s honesty”.

“I put it down to bad luck and bad karma,” he said.

“It’s money out of my pocket, I could be on a pension, but I like supporting myself as best I can, all we’re trying to do is make a living.

“I’m hoping the person (who took the statue) will return it, it would be nice if they’ve got a change of heart.”

Anyone who spots the statue, knows its whereabouts or has information is asked to speak to Emma at the store, or phone [phone].