Burglars steal Torremolinos mum’s new car

A TORREMOLINOS mother has been left car-less after ‘gentleman’ robbers stole her only means of transport while she slept by the side of her daughter Nicole, aged 4.

Burglars broke into Carina Welsh’s parent’s home in Torremolinos, took her electronic car card just two meters from where she was sleeping and made off the car she had purchased just days earlier. Carina’s parents are Australian and moved to Malaga more than 40 years ago and for decades owned the famous second hand book shop on Calle San Miguel (Torremolinos).

“The strange thing is that they did not take my dad’s Toyota Land Rover, the car keys were right next to the ones for my Renault Grand Scenic,” said 38-year-old Carina who was born in Malaga. The only other things they took were a watch Carina had got for her birthday the week before and €100 out of her mother’s purse.

“They must have also gone through my dad’s camera bag as they were put back in a different order.”

“They were ‘gentlemen’ as they did not mess up the house, apart from three banana skins in the drive way and the remains of a stale doughnut in the fridge. They also took Nicole’s pushchair and doll out of the boot of the car and left them with the car-jack and red triangles.”

Carina was staying the night at her parent’s house when the burglary took place while they all slept, including the family dog. “Since I have become a mother I am extremely sensitive to noise at night, but that night I did not hear a thing and my dog normally barks at his own shadow did not make a peep. My daughter usually moves around a lot, but that night she was in the same position she fell asleep in.”

“I dreamt that I had to wake up, but could not. Then I heard my mom calling out ‘Carina! Your car has been stolen’; and then I really woke-up,” said Carina.

“I jumped out of bed and looked out the window to see that my Renault Grand Scenic was not in the driveway, although my father’s Toyota Land Cruiser was still there.”

The burglars had accessed the home through a living room window on the first floor with no ‘rejas’, opening the window from the outside. “When the insurance man came round he mentioned that perhaps the burglars had used sleeping gas, but I did not feel groggy at all or have a headache.”

Unfortunately the robbery insurance will only pay out 47 per cent of the car. Carina says she had borrowed money to buy the 4-year-old car which cost her €19,690.

“At first I thought it was some kind of bad joke as I had only had the car for exactly one week.” After checking that no family member had perhaps borrowed the car, Carina called the police. “They came within 15 minutes, were very efficient, professional and extremely good looking.” Since the burglary Carina looks at thing differently.

“I am more suspicious of people. I look at people passing by outside and wonder if it was them. It could have been anyone. I have had a few nightmares too, but I guess if it is going to happen it will. My parents will be leaving more lights on, but cannot afford to fit an alarm system as my mom is ill and attending a private clinic, so no extra money.”

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