A couple whose home was broken into and car stolen say they were later slapped with a $6,000 fine because the thief driving their vehicle wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Leila and Hamid, from Australia’s Gold Coast, were asleep when masked intruders entered their home, stole valuables, and eventually fled in their Lexus SUV. The thieves allegedly already had one key and tried to access the bedroom to find others.
Hamid said he chased the intruders out and called police, but claims officers never arrived. The group later returned and took the Lexus. Weeks afterward, instead of an update on the investigation, the couple received a $6,258 AUD infringement notice after a traffic camera captured the stolen SUV being driven without a seatbelt.
The fine is reportedly due by March 3, with additional penalties if unpaid. Hamid said police still have not attended the home three weeks after the incident.
The ordeal has also affected the couple’s seven-year-old child, who was present when the thieves returned. The suspects remain at large, and authorities have not said whether the fine will be withdrawn.