By Aneeka Simonis
A FORMER serviceman who volunteers time to play Santa over the Christmas period has found himself victim to a callous, debilitating crime days out from the big day.
Mick Page, a Pakenham CFA volunteer who was honoured with the National Medal earlier this year, had his work trailer stolen from his home on Saturday 17 December.
More than a dozen expensive electric tools and hand tools were stolen from the trailer, found dumped in vacant Solid Drive land not long after it was pinched.
Mick, 54, has to work over the Christmas break, and is now in the unenviable position of having to quickly replace all of his stolen tools to get on with his job.
“It’s frustrating … how can they do this a week before Christmas?” Mick said.
Mick, who also served 10 years in the navy, gets dressed up in Santa’s big red suit and hops onto Pakenham’s fire truck to spread cheer throughout the community over the Christmas period.
In fact, he was out spreading some Christmas cheer when his trailer was stolen.
A neighbour told Mick they called Crime Stoppers to report the crime, but police were not available to come down.
“We live in a really quiet court. No one comes down here. The neighbours are shocked,” he said.
The trailer was stolen from Mick’s Adam Court, Pakenham home, at 1.17am on Saturday 17 December.
It was found dumped on the vacant block off Pakenham Road, missing all of Mick’s expensive tools including his cordless drills, cordless grinder, vacuum blower and nail gun.
Mick was awarded the National Medal after 20 years’ service with the CFA and 10 years’ service in the navy at a presentation in Pakenham in October this year.
He said the crime won’t stifle his Christmas spirit, with several more Santa runs pencilled in to his schedule.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
