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'Just disgusting': Man slams 'cowardly' act amid NSW bushfires

A resident trying to evade raging bushfires on the NSW North Coast has hit out at the “coward” responsible for breaking into his car after he had filled it with his belongings.

The man from the Byron Bay area took to a local community Facebook group to share images of his vehicle which had two windows smashed and the inside ransacked.

The resident had moved his vehicle away from a fire that had broken out in Mullumbimby on Monday as the Rural Fire Service warned residents to act before it’s too late.

“A coward decided to break into our car by smashing both windows,” the man wrote on Facebook appealing for information as he revealed a guitar was among the stolen items.

Some of the man's belongings were strewn across the side of the road next to his black car near Mullumbimby in NSW's north.
Some of the man's belongings were strewn across the side of the road. Source: Facebook

Several of the man’s items were carelessly left strewn across the side of the road, prompting a wave of comments slamming the “horrible” act.

“That’s just disgusting,” one person wrote.

“There's enough to worry about without this,” another said.

“This is disgusting behaviour especially in the time of a crisis,” one user pointed out.

The incident has been reported to local police.

A close up of one of the smashed windows on the man's black car.
The culprit smashed two windows of the man's vehicle that had been moved to a safer area amid a bushfire warning. Source: Facebook

NSW Police warned on Tuesday that acts of theft during bushfires would not be tolerated.

“These communities have suffered enough without individuals stealing what items they have left,” Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

“Local police numbers are being bolstered by the Public Order and Riot Squad, the Police Transport Command, and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command to ensure regular patrols are conducted throughout the bushfire affected areas.

“Any reports of looting or other criminal acts will be thoroughly investigated. If you choose to partake in this type of behaviour, you will face the full force of the law.”

Deputy Commissioner Worboys urged the community to remain vigilant and report any crime to Triple-0 immediately.

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