A quick-thinking Gymea man has stopped an alleged would-be thief in his tracks after seeing him enter a neighbour's car.
Rod Bowen was enjoying dinner with his wife on the verandah of his Coonong Road house on Tuesday night when he saw a man acting suspiciously.
“I just noticed this guy slide past. As he walked past he was getting lower and lower along the fence,’’ he said.
“Then I saw him go into Stacey’s driveway and saw the car door open. I initially wasn’t too worried because they always have friends coming and going but I saw him get in and close the door and thought it was strange.’’
Just to be sure he knocked on his neighbour, Stacey Buitendijk, door to check.
Mrs Buitendijk was at home with her kids and had briefly left her car unlocked while she went inside. She had left her handbag in the car with $400 inside.
“It took me a while to understand what Rod was saying. I think I was in shock,’’ she said.
Mr Bowen quickly realised the man wasn’t a friend and went back outside to the car and snapped a few pictures of the man with his mobile phone
“I was keen to get photos of him rather than trying to hold him. He ran down the road as fast as anyone could and he went down a side street,’’ he said.
The noise caught the attention of other neighbours who followed him and realised a nearby car was his.
As a mechanic by trade Mr Bowen used some quick-thinking and removed the car’s spark plug, leaving it undriveable.
The would-be thief came back and tried to start his car but had to settle on letting it roll down the hill where another set of neighbours pushed it off the road.
By this time Sutherland police had arrived and promptly arrested the man.
Mr Bowen said he reacted by instinct.
“It was just reflex, it was probably stupid but I’ve been in situations when people haven’t put their hand up,’’ he said.
“I’ve learnt you have to react straight away, not necessarily get involved if you're not capable if there’s someone better qualified but you need to give a head’s up.
“I thought it would be good if he couldn’t drive away.’’
Mrs Buitendijk was overwhelmed not only by the actions of Mr Bowen but by all her neighbours.
“In the end I think we had about four neighbours come to help, it was unbelievable,’’ she said.
“Most neighbours wouldn’t have even noticed or if they did they wouldn’t have done anything.
“I just gave [Rod] a huge hug. He doesn’t realise how much it meant to me – it was a lot of money.’’
Sutherland police Detective Chief Inspector Terry O’Neill confirmed officers arrested a Miranda man, 42, at the scene.
He was taken to Sutherland Police Station and charged with stealing, entering a vehicle without consent of owner and unlicensed driver.
He was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on November 20.
