[Heybuck]

So about 4 or 5months ago, a plumber who has a storage unit in my factory complex had his vehicle stored inside the building, factory all locked up but the keys were in the ignition of the car. Its a 2019 Toyota HiLux, twin cab ute with a specially built work box on the back.

His factory was broken into, (probably just thieves wanting to steal copper etc), but they stole his work ute which was full of all his expensive to replace tools etc. They just drove it out through the roller door. Made a heck of a mess, alarms screaming, torn out roller door etc but the ute was gone.

First problem was his insurance will not pay because he had left the keys in the car. That's standard practice over here so he was out nearly $150k. He has ordered a new vehicle but with shipping delays he hasn't got it yet and in the meantime he is still using a friends van plus he has had to replace a lot of his tools.

Move forward to mid last week and he gets a call from the cops. During a routine inspection of shipping containers waiting on the wharf here for export, apparently a drug sniffer dog nosed out a suspicious container. It was pulled out of the line for inspection, and opened up. Inside the container was our plumber mate's ute and a Mercedes Benz car. Both stolen. His ute still has most if not all of the tools still in it and it has apparently been repaired from any damage it incurred while being smashed through the roller door. It still has its work ladders on the roof!!

The container was apparently destined for one of the Pacific islands. Not sure which one? Not sure what the drugs part of the story is but our boy here is a squeaky clean family guy so I'd very seriously doubt they have anything to do with him or indeed if drugs were even in his car.

He hasn't got his car back yet while the cops do their thing but in the end it will all happen. But it sure is an expensive lesson about leaving your keys in your car.

Ian