Malmsbury youth justice centre escape: grieving man’s car stolen
ESCAPED inmates from the Malmsbury youth justice centre were driving around Melbourne in a white Suzuki stolen from an elderly man grieving his late wife and son.
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ESCAPED inmates from the Malmsbury youth justice centre were driving around Melbourne in a white Suzuki stolen from an elderly man grieving his late wife and son.
Herman Klynhout had left flowers on family graves at Harcourt Cemetery before he turned out onto the Old Calder Highway and was confronted by the youths around 3pm on Wednesday.
Mr Klynhout’s white Suzuki SUV, which four inmates are believed to have fled toward Melbourne in, was about 12 days old and had sentimental value to the 83-year-old.
The ‘WILMAK’ numberplates spell the name of his late wife, Wilma, and the first letter of her surname.
Mr Klynhout’s son, Danny, told the Herald Sun the four youths demanded the keys from his father, and one then tried but failed to steal his wallet.
Danny estimates his father, who was alone, was travelling around 90km/h when the youths initially overtook him at high-speed in a red car.
“As he drove up to the crossing of the Midland Highway and the Old Calder Highway they just stopped in the middle of the road so he couldn’t pass. When he stopped behind them that’s when they jumped out of the car and then forced him out of the car,” Danny explained.
“He jumped out of the car and they started pushing him around. He got out and ran off but had his keys in his pocket … They started yelling at him that they needed the keys, so three of them ran after him to grab the keys.
“He threw the keys at them, three got in the car and started up the car and then the fourth one started chasing him for his wallet.
“He said, ‘give me your wallet, or I’m going to bash your head in.’”
The four youths escaped in the new car without the wallet but with a mobile phone that had been left in there.
Danny said police arrived shortly after they fled toward Melbourne, his dad hailing down officers.
The car was later found dumped at the corner of Springvale and Wellington roads in Mulgrave after colliding with another car about 11.40pm
Mr Klynhout, unlike some other alleged victims of reported carjackings, was not physically injured by the group he described as young men and not kids.