HEARTFELT PLEA: Denise O’Hara just wants her beloved camera and its equipment returned to her following a theft at her Glenroi house on Friday night. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 1021sgtheft
DESPITE living halfway-around the world, Kes O’Hara is doing everything she can to track down the “scumbags” responsible for a break-in at her mother’s Glenroi home last Friday.
Temporarily based in California, Miss O’Hara has set up a Facebook page dedicated to tracking down those responsible for breaking into her mother Denise O’Hara’s Leura Place home and taking a number of items including a large amount of cash and a camera and its equipment.
In a letter posted on the Facebook page Miss O’Hara urged people to “keep your ear to the ground for someone trying to sell cameras” and to take note of anyone with a few more dollars than usual.
“Someone will be running around with pockets full of $2 coins, so those who work in retail, keep an eye out for anyone trying to cash in large amounts of coins,” she said.
Miss O’Hara also asked people to contact their “less desirable friends and family members” and put the word out that a friend has been targeted.
“We all know dodgy folk, Orange isn’t a huge place,” she said.
Miss O’Hara said setting up the Facebook page was the only thing she could think of to help her mother.
“I’m on the other side of the world, and this is the best I can do to help, otherwise I’d go doorknocking every house in Glenroi myself.”
Ms O’Hara said she’s grateful for her daughter’s efforts and hopes it prompts a response from someone with information about the incident that occurred between 7 and 9pm while she was sharing a quiet dinner with family.
During that time Ms O’Hara also popped back home to grab some dog food and she suspects the thieves may have still been in her house.
“It looks like they left some stuff that they were intending to take,” she said.
Despite the theft of her “life savings” Ms O’Hara said she’s hopeful the camera and its equipment, worth around $5000, will eventually be found or returned.
“I just want them to give my camera back ... even drop it over the back fence.”
Ms O’Hara said she’s been buoyed by the support she’d received as a result of the Facebook page and her neighbours have been fantastic.
“When I realised what had happened my instant reaction was that I wanted to move, I didn’t want to live here anymore,” she said.
“I’m over that now, this is my home.”
As a longtime resident of Glenroi Ms O’Hara said the area doesn’t deserve the reputation it’s got.
“I’ve lived in this house for 12 years and in Glenroi for 30 years, it’s a great place,” she said.
“People say it’s a bad area but it’s not.”
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au